Abstract: A new method (liquidus casting)was used for 356 Al alloy semi-solid slurry mak-ing.The structures of 356 Al alloy cast by a fe mould and semi-continuous casting machine at different temperatures were inves tigated.How the globular grains form was qlso discussed.The results show that either being cast by single Fe mould or semi-continuous machine,the microstructures are not conventional dendrites but fine and net-globular grains.The average grain size is smaller than 30μm and suitable enough for thixoforming,meanwhile it can improve the mechanical properties of fol-lowing products.Under the suitable casting velocity and cooling intensity,most of global grains prolong their global browth and collide with each other before dendritic growth because of the large amount of the nucleation sites.

Key words: liquidus casting, microstructure, 356 Al alloy,