Feasibility of using contactless electromagnetic cavitation for steel composite manufacturing

This work investigates the feasibility of using contactless electromagnetic sonication for dispersing and refining a strengthening phase in iron and steel for ferrous metal matrix composite (MMCs) production. An oscillating pressure field is generated using superposition of alternating (0.13 T) and steady magnetic fields (up to 8 T). The processing employs a static floating-zone technique and is crucible-free. This approach allows to reach around 0.8 MPa pressure oscillation amplitude that is sufficient to initiate acoustic cavitation in high melting temperature liquid metals. The viability of various reinforcement dispersion, both ex and in situ, using this electromagnetic sonication is explored in the context of oxide dispersion strengthened (ODS) steel and high modulus steel (HMS) production.