It is similar to clayey mud which may be cut with a knife, but flows easily when deformed. In thixocasting, the filling time of the die is less than a second. Because of the consistency of the melt, controlled filling with no air entrapment is possible, but the filling must be rapid to avoid premature freezing. Handling the melt in the foundry is not required. The foundry needs no ovens.
Less energy is consumed since the billet is heated only to the semi-solid state.
There is less wear on the die since casting occurs at lower temperatures. The casting may be heat-treated. Problems related to shrinkage are greatly reduced Parts with very different wall thickness are handled well. The Department of Casting and Metal Forming, together with 11 partners from Denmark, Germany, France and Italy as well as Hydro Magnesium and Hydro Aluminium, has participated in an EC project with the aim of increasing the use of thixocast parts in automobiles.