Electromagnetic Directional Solidification Research Articles

Degassing of aluminum alloys via the electromagnetic directional solidification

A new route for degassing of molten aluminum alloys has been developed via the electromagnetic directional solidification. We evaluated the degassing feasibility and mechanism for the formation and evolution of the porosity. As expected, it enabled the migration of porosity to the upper end instead of the distribution in the whole sample. Furthermore, we investigated the effects of various pull-down rates, i.e., solidification rates on the degassing efficiency, porosity area fraction, and microstructure of alloys, etc. Clearly, the experimental results show that with the reducing of pull-down rates, the degassing efficiency increases and the porosity area fraction decreases, respectively. The lowest porosity area fraction is down to 0.08% under the 5 μm/s pull-down rate. Simultaneously, there are almost no porosity and other defects in the lower part of the final product. In conclusion, it offers an alternative method for degassing and possesses potential applications in aeronautic and space industry.

A Preliminary Study of Electromagnetic Confinement and Directional Solidification of Platy Specimens of Stainless Steels

A Preliminary Study of Electromagnetic Confinement and Directional Solidification of Platy Specimens of Stainless Steels

Investigation on the Electromagnetic Contactless Shaping and Directional Solidification of Plates of Stainless Steel and Supperalloy under Vacuum

In this study, the distribution of electromagnetic pressure and the coupling between shaping force and temperature field are investigated in electromagnetic contactless shaping process for plates of stainless steel and superalloy. The distributions of electromagnetic pressure on outlines of melt cross sections are very different along sides than at corners. Under the vacuum, the cooling ability is not strong enough, and therefore the position of melt in inductor is too low, which causes an unbalance between electromagnetic pressure and static pressure. Experiments show the insert of a screen shell from the bottom of inductor can change the distribution of magnetic field very much and make a good and stable coupling between shaping force and temperature field.