COVER LETTER FOR SUBMISSION OF MANUSCRIPT

To
Editor-in-Chief
Journal of Applied Science

Subject: SUBMISSION OF A MANUSCRIPT FOR EVALUATION

Dear Editor

I am enclosing herewith a manuscript entitled “Direct Partial Remelting of XW-42 Steel in Semi-solid
Zone” for publication in Journal of Applied Science.

With the submission of this manuscript I would like to undertake that the above mentioned manuscript
has not been published elsewhere, accepted for publication elsewhere or under editorial review for
publication elsewhere; and that my Institute’s (Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia) representative is fully
aware of this submission.

Submitted manuscript is a (Select one option)

 Research Article

For the Editors, I would like to disclose the following information about the project:

The research project was conducted under the supervision of:

Dr. Mohd. Zaidi Omar

The research project was my:

 M.Sc. project

This research project was conducted from July, 4 th 2007 to May, 31st 2009

My Research Project was partially or fully sponsored by Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation,
Malaysia with grant number 03-01-02-SF0047.

From the same project I have already published the following manuscripts:
Journal

M.Z. Omar, A. Alfan, J. Syarif, Z. Sajuri, S. Abdullah, M.J. Ghazali, 2008. Modelling of XW-42 Steel for
Semi-solid Processing. Computers and Simulation in Modern Science, 2: 39-44.
Conference

A. Alfan, M.Z. Omar, J. Syarif, Z. Sajuri, S. Abdullah dan M.J. Ghazali. 2008. Microstructural Evolution of
XW-42 Tool Steel in Semi Solid Temperature Interval. Malaysian Metallurgical Conference (MMC
2008). Kelab Danau UKM, Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia.

A. Alfan, M.Z. Omar, J. Syarif and M.J. Ghazali. 2009. XW-42 Tool Steel Behavior in Semi Solid Zone.
International Conference on Mechanical Engineering (ICME 09). Damascus, Syria.

A. Alfan, M.Z. Omar, J. Syarif and M.J. Ghazali. 2009. Vanadis 4 Steel Behaviour in Semi-Solid Zone Prior
to Thixoforming Process. The 4th International Conference on Recent Advances in Materials
Minerals & Environment (RAMM) and 2nd Asian Symposium on Materials & Processing (ASMP).
Bayview Beach Resort, Pulau Penang, Malaysia.

What are the significant findings of your submitted articles?

It is found that XW-42 steel could achieve relatively globular austenite phase with grain size 50-60 µm
and shape factor 1.2-1.4 after partial remelting at 1300 and 1340C. The structure is thought to be
suitable for thixoforming.

How findings of this research work are unique in their nature?

Before forming process could be conducted, the material is usually processed to get globular solid phase
within liquid matrix. For solid based materials that are acquired in as annealed condition, the process
involves deformation above or below recrystallization temperature to get the desired structure during
partial remelting (which simulates the structure of the alloy prior to forming process). However it is
found that for this XW-42 steel (AISI D2), the desired structure could be obtained directly after partial
remelting from its as annealed condition.