Effects of Electromagnetic Field on Horizontal Continuous Casting of 6061 Aluminium Alloy Bar Process

Abstract

The ingots cast by DC casting process are usually extruded into aluminum bars. When the final products do not require high intensity, this process appears to be low efficiency and high cost. In order to simplify production procedure, increase the production efficiency and reduce the cost, we try to design a new technology to cast aluminum bar by horizontal direct chill (HDC) casting process directly. An electromagnetic field is applied during the horizontal continuous casting of 6061 aluminium alloy bar with the diameter of 30mm process. The experimental results show that the electromagnetic field is helpful for making the sump shallow and refining the structure near ingot surface, and the feather grain near ingot center during the conventional HDC casting process is converted into fine columnar grain when electromagnetic field is applied. With the increasing of current density, the solidification structures near the ingot surface and center are further refined.