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1775193 
Journal Article 
A study on manufacturing of aluminum automotive piston by thixoforging 
Choi, Jil; Park, JH; Kim, JaeH; Kim, SKuk; Kim, YHo; Lee, JunHee 
2007 
Yes 
International Journal of Advanced Manufacturing Technology
ISSN: 0268-3768 
32 
3-4 
280-287 
WOS:000244487300006 
The manufacture of many products related to the automobile
and airplane industries by semi-solid forming is nowadays increasing from environmental and
economical points of view. Especially in the automobile industry, to upgrade engine capability
and reduce engine weight, the aluminum engine piston has already been developed by researchers
and industrial technicians. Currently, forming methods to manufacture engine piston are casting,
squeeze casting and hot forging. These methods, however, include several casting defects and need
post machining as well. In this study, aluminum engine piston will be manufactured by
thixoforging according to forming variables. In addition, it is very important to find the
effects of forming variables on the final product by thixoforging. In order to determine the
effects, however, researchers and industrial technicians have depended upon many experimental
trials. In this study, a statistical approach for thixoforging has been adopted to improve
experimental efficiency. Forming variables such as initial solid fraction, die temperature, and
compression holding time were considered for manufacturing aluminum engine piston by
thixoforging. Hardness and microstructure characterization were carried out so that the optimal
forming condition could be found by the statistical approach. The experiment to make aluminum
engine piston was performed under the optimal condition found by the statistical approach. 
thixoforging; aluminum automotive piston; surface response analysis; genetic algorithm; neural network decision maker