Adjustment and verification of macroscopic melt flow during solidi-fication by means of various AC magnetic fields


Adjustment and verification of macroscopic melt flow during solidi-fication by means of various AC magnetic fields

Eckert, S.; Räbiger, D.; Vogt, T.; Gerbeth, G.

AC magnetic fields unlock an enormous potential to realize a variety of flow structures in molten metals, which makes the electromagnetic stirring attractive for control-ling the melt flow during solidification. Many studies have shown that beneficial effects like a distinct grain refinement or the promotion of a transition from a columnar to an equiaxed dendritic growth (CET) can be obtained. However, electromagnetically-driven melt convection may also produce segregation freckles on the macro-scale especially in solute-rich alloys showing different equilibrium concentrations of solute in the mixed crystal and the surrounding melt. The achievement of superior casting structures needs a well-aimed control of melt convection during solidification, which in turn requires a detailed knowledge of the flow structures and a profound understanding of the complex interaction between melt flow, temperature and concentration field.
Previous investigations considered the use of time-modulated AC magnetic field to control the heat and mass transfer at the solidification front. It has been shown recently under laboratory conditions, that an accurate tuning of the magnetic field parameters can avoid segregation effects, however, a mismatch of the relevant modulation parameter may lead to worse results. Further investigations in form of numerical simulations accompanied by model experiments are necessary to achieve a quantitative understanding of the effect of fluid flow on the microstructure evolution.
This paper presents an experimental study which at first is focused on obtaining quantitative information about the isothermal flow field exposed to various magnetic field configurations. In a second step solidification experiments are carried out to verify the effect of a certain flow field on the solidification process. Furthermore, a new experimental set-up has been constructed to investigate electromagnetically-driven flows under realistic conditions of directional solidification, in particular the behaviour of the flow pattern in case of a propagating interface.

Keywords: solidification; electromagnetic stirring; rotating magnetic field; flow control

  • Lecture (Conference)
    Modeling of Casting, Welding and Advanced Solidification Processes 2012 (MCWASP XIII), 17.-22.06.2012, Schladming, Österreich
  • Open Access Logo IOP Conference Series: Materials Science and Engineering 33(2012), 012047
    DOI: 10.1088/1757-899X/33/1/012047
    Cited 1 times in Scopus

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Publ.-Id: 16189