Thixotropic materials

摘要

A method of producing a thixotropic material is provided which consists of deforming a fully solidified metal or metal alloy below its temperature of recrystallization by cold or warm working such as extrusion or rolling. The deformed material is then caused to recrystallize by heating and the temperature is either further raised or subsequently raised above the solidus of the material so that the recrystallized structure partially melts to provide discrete particles which spheroidize in the liquid matrix to provide a material which behaves thixotropically. The flow characteristics of the material are such that lower forming loads are required and weaker non-metallic die materials may be used.