Effects of electromagnetic stirring on microstructures of solidified aluminum alloys
(School of Mechanical Engineering, Liaoning Technical University, Fuxin123000, China)
Abstract: Al-20%Cu, Al-33%Cu and Al-7%Si alloys were solidified with electromagnetic stirring(EMS). The fluid flow induced by electromagnetic stirring leads to the increases of the lamellar spacing of Al-CuAl2 and Al-Si eutectics and the secondary dendritic arm spacing. Rod-like eutectic structure plus pro-eutectic α(Al) are observed in Al-Cu eutectic alloy when the agitating voltage is increased over 130V, and in the hypoeutectic alloys, globular grains of proeutectic α(Al) grains may form when the magnetic field is strong enough. The Si flakes in the Al-Si eutectic are also coarsened by applying forced flow during solidification, which is always related to the depression of their branching in the growth by the forced convection.
Key words: electromagnetic stirring; fluid flow; eutectic; solidification