With a help of a viscometer

the rheological properties of semi-solid Al-17Si-xFe（x=2

3

4

weight percentage

%）prepared were analyzed.The viscosity of Al-17Si-xFe in the constant temperatures of 100℃、50℃above the liquidus and 10℃、40℃below the liquidus

respectively

was measured

and the viscosity-temperature curve in the continuous cooling process was presented.The results show that the viscosities in the previous temperatures reaches 0.745 1、0.787 8、0.922 4、1.082 9Pa·s

respectively

which show with the temperature decreases

the viscosity is increased.With the iron content increasing from 2%to 4%

the viscosity of the alloys is increased too.However

with a higher iron content

the precipitation and sedimentation of the iron phases becomes serious in the temperature of 40 ℃below the liquidus with increasing in the holding time

which results in the decrease of the apparent viscosity of the melt to some extent.With increasing in the shearing time

the apparent viscosity of the alloys in the temperature of 40℃below the liquidus is decreased firstly and then increased.In the continuous cooling process

with the continuous decrease of the temperature

the solid fraction of the melt is gradually increased

and the apparent viscosity of the melt is increased slowly.When the temperature is reduced to some temperature near the solidus

the apparent viscosity of Al-17Si-xFe alloys is increased rapidly.In addition

at the same shear rate and to achieve the same solid fraction

the apparent viscosity of the melt is increased with the increase of cooling rate.