Structure refinement of pure Mg under pulsed magnetic field

Abstract

A pulsed magnetic field (PMF) was introduced into the solidification of pure Mg. Fine uniform equiaxed grains are acquired in the whole ingot from the PMF treatment, in contrast with the coarse columnar grains observed in conventional casting, and the average grain size is refined to 260 μm with a 200 V PMF treatment. Pulsed magnetic field increases melt convection during solidification, and the violent agitation causes warmer liquid to fracture the tip of columnar dendrites or to break off dendrite branches to promote the formation of an equiaxed structure, with the broken pieces transported into the bulk liquid acting as nuclei. In addition, the uniform temperature field resulting from the stirring increases the likelihood of nuclei survival. The Joule heat effect also participates in the structure refinement. The pure Mg produced with a 200 V PMF treatment exhibits improved mechanical properties, such as the ultimate compressive strength (227 MPa) and fracture strain (33·2%).