Evolution of the microstructure and solute distribution of Sn-10wt% Bi alloys during electromagnetic field-assisted directional solidification

The effects of forced flows at different velocities on microstructure and solute distribution during the directional solidification of Sn-10 wt% Bi alloys under a simultaneous imposition of a transverse static magnetic field(TSMF) and an external direct current(DC) have been investigated experimentally and numerically. The experimental results show that the solid-liquid interface will gradually become sloping with the increase of the forced flow velocity when the thermoelectric magnetic convection(TEMC)dominates the forced flow at solidification front. However, the interface will gradually become planar as the flow velocity further increases when the electromagnetic convection(EMC) dominates the forced flow. Moreover, when the flow velocity gradually increases, the primary dendrite spacing decreases from384 to 105 μm accordingly. The simulation results show that the solute distribution at the two sides of the sample can be significantly changed by the forced flow at solidification front. The rejected solute will be unidirectionally transported to one side of the sample along the TEMC(a low-velocity forced flow),thereby causing the formation of a sloping interface. However, the rejected solute will be returned back along the EMC(a higher-velocity force flow), which results in a planar interface. Furthermore, the solute content at the two sides of the sample under the forced flows at different velocities was measured. The results are in good agreement with the simulation results, which shows that the solute content difference between the two sides of the sample reaches the maximum when a 0.5 T TSMF is applied, while the solute content difference decreases to zero with a simultaneous application of a 0.5 T TSMF and a 1.6 × 10~5 A/m^2 external DC.

6.5 wt%Si high silicon steel sheets prepared by composite electrodeposition in magnetic field

A new preparation method of near-net-shape 6.5 wt% Si high silicon steel sheets was proposed by combining composite electrodeposition(CED) and diffusion annealing under magnetic field. The obtained sheets were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectrometry, analytical balance and a silicon steel material measurement system. The results show that the surface morphology,the elemental distribution, the cathode current efficiency and the silicon content of coatings were obviously influenced by the micro and macro magnetohydrodynamics(MHD) flows under magnetic field.With the effect of magnetic field, the silicon particles content of coatings showed an increasing trend and the diffusion process showed that an approximately uniform 6.5 wt% silicon steel sheet has been successfully obtained. The magnetism measurement showed that the high silicon steel sheet has the lower iron loss, and the iron loss further decreased under magnetic field. The new method proposed in this article,which is more environmentally friendly and low energy consumption, is feasible to prepare high silicon steel sheets.