Abstract
The scale of dendritic structure of a cast preform plays a key role in determining the mechanical properties of cast/forged products. In this study, casting experiments are carried out to reduce dendrite arm spacing (DAS) to smaller than 20 ${\mu}$m by increasing cooling rate of the mold and then to spheriodize dendritic structures by addition of alloying elements such as Zr and Ti-B. From the casting experiments, appropriate casting conditions for producing the cast preform of a motorcycle connecting rod are obtained. To obtain fine microstructures of the cast preform, mold temperature must set to be low whilst cooling rate being high. When cooling rate is 10 $^{\circ}C$/s, the size of DAS is 17.4 ${\mu}$m. And the degree of spheriodization of a grain in the cast preform is described by aspect ratio, which is defined as the ratio of major and minor radii of an elliptical grain. When 0.5% Zr and 0.24 % Ti+B are added to the molten aluminum alloy, the best aspect-ratio 0.75 is obtained. After forging the cast preform of a motorcycle connecting rod, the microstructure and mechanical properties of the cast preform are compared with those of the cast/forged product. Cast/forged products are superior in microstructure and in mechanical properties such as ultimate strength, elongation, and hardness.
