The foundation and application of semi-solid processing were surveyed including continuous casting process

reheating of billet

the rheological behavior of semi-solid slurry

die casting process of semi-solid slurry

the heat treatment of die castings

numerical simulation and production of automobile parts. The microstructure of billets prepared by vertical continuous casting exhibits evident spheroid

and average tensile strength and elongation of the slurry reach up to 250 MPa and 15%

respectively. The holding time should be shortened as possible to keep fine and spheroidized structure in slurry during reheating process under the condition of uniform temperature field. The tensile strength and elongation of semi-solid die castings reach up to 330 MPa and more than 10%

respectively. The future development in industry and fundamental understand was proposed.