Contactless generation of cavitation in high temperature liquid metals and its impact on particle dispersion in solidified iron and steel samples

Abstract

A recently developed method for the contactless magnetic generation of cavitation is demonstrated for high-melting-point metals. The approach is based on the floating-zone technique, which is truly contactless and crucible-free as it uses electromagnetic forces. Using this method, ultra-high-temperature ceramic particles, such as TiN, TiB2 and TiC, are admixed in liquid iron and 316L steel. The dispersion and particle refinement caused by cavitation treatment during melting and solidification are investigated. Magnetic fields up to 8 T that correspond to pressure oscillation amplitude of 0.83 MPa are used. The signal emitted by the collapsing bubbles is captured and visualized for iron melts. Samples with a higher number of cavitation nuclei exhibit a more stable cavitation response. Improved reinforcement refinement is demonstrated for increasing cavitation intensity – the size of precipitates is evidently reduced due to the cavitation treatment.