Abstract: A semi-solid metal-forming process for producing an article of a hypoeutectic aluminum-silicon alloy comprises heating a solid billet of the alloy to a temperature intermediate the liquidus temperature and the solidus temperature at a rate not greater than 30.degree. C. per minute, preferably not greater than 20.degree. C. per minute, to form a semi-solid body of the alloy while inhibiting the formation of free silicon particles therein. The semi-solid body comprises a primary spheroidal phase dispersed in a eutectic-derived liquid phase and is conducive to forming at low pressure. In one apsect of this invention, a billet having a quiescently cast microstructure characterized by primary dendrite particles in a eutectic matrix is heated at the slow rate and maintained at the intermediate temperature for a time sufficient to transform the dendrite phase into the desired spheroidal phase.