Filling analysis for thixomolded process of AZ91D magnesium alloy

Mold filling in lately-developed Thixomolding process is a complex process, of which numerical simulation is necessary for development. Governing equations and numerical models are first given, and then the experiment and its filling simulation are carried out. The results demonstrate that the modeling temperature changes from 864 to 873 K when the barrel temperature is 873 K. The difference is primarily in the runner system, but nearly invariable in the part. Consequently, the slurry fills the cavity smoothly with low solid fraction, and the filling process finishes in 5 ms, the filling process completes successfully before solidification of the slurry, which has good agreement with the experiment. Through a snapshot of the filling process and defects tracking, drawbacks are displayed and confirmed in the experiment.