Rheological Research of the Semisolid ADC12 Slurry Prepared with High-Energy Ultrasound and Pr/Ce Addition

The semisolid ADC12 slurry was prepared by a high-energy ultrasonic method, which was reinforced with rare earth praseodymium and cerium (Pr/Ce). Effects of solid fraction, ultrasonic power, and Pr/Ce addition on the steady-state apparent viscosity of slurry within a invariant shear rate were investigated by optical microscope (OM) and apparent viscosity measurement experiment. The results indicated that the apparent viscosity of the semisolid ADC12 slurry was positively correlated with the solid fraction and the amount of Pr/Ce added, while it was negatively correlated with ultrasonic power. The high-energy ultrasound broke the coarse dendrites, then increased the number of crystal nuclei in the slurry, induced component supercooling, refined and homogenized the grains of the semisolid microstructure. Meanwhile, according to the measured data in this experiment, a semisolid rheological model of the semisolid ADC12 slurry with the addition of Pr/Ce, ultrasonic power, and temperature was established.