Semi-solid A356aluminum alloy slurry was prepared by a serpentine channel

and the slurry was heated for a short time by an induction heating system and then finally quenched in water to observe effects of short-time electromagnetic heating on temperature and microstructure of the slurry.The results reveal that temperature difference between the inner slurry and periphery slurry can be decreased greatly through short-term induction heating process

reaching the range of±1℃

fulling meeting the requirements of rheo-forming.Meanwhile

primaryα-Al phase becomes more spherical with the coarseness of grain size.Heating power has some effects on microstructure of the slurry when heating power is in range of 1.6～3.6kW

with increasing in heating power

heating time is shortened and primaryα-Al phase is refined.The slurry temperature has also somewhat effects on the slurry microstructure.When the temperature is in range of 595～608℃

with decreasing in temperature

the primaryα-Al phase is refined.