Numerical simulation of a thixocasting process for AISI420 stainless steel air-turbine blade

A new technology, semi-solid casting (thixocasting) method, was used to replace the conventional hot forging process to form AISI420 stainless steel air-turbine blade. The power law cut-off (PLCO) material model in Procast software was used to simulate the thixocasting process. The thixocasting process was simulated. The results show that the reasonable technology parameters for air-turbine blade thixocasting process are obtained: billet temperature 1 483-1 485 °C, piston velocity 12-15 m/s and die temperature is about 400 °C. © 2010 The Nonferrous Metals Society of China.