Effect of low-frequency electromagnetic field on the as-cast microstructure of a new super high strength aluminum alloy by horizontal continuous casting

The super high strength aluminum alloy ingots with 100 mm in diameter were cast by the process of low-frequency electromagnetic horizontal continuous casting (LFEHC) and the effect of electromagnetic field on the as-cast microstructure was studied. Results show that microstructure of the sample prepared by the LFEHC process was greatly refined. Microstructures at the border and the center of the ingots were fine, uniform and rosette-shaped. Electromagnetic frequency plays a key role in microstructure refining. Fine and uniform microstructures can be obtained with optimal electromagnetic frequency. In this experiment, under a frequency of 30 Hz the microstructure was the finest and the most uniform.

Temperature field in the hot-top during casting a new super-high strength Al-Zn-Mg-Cu alloy by low frequency electromagnetic process

The billets of a new super-high strength Al-Zn-Mg-Cu alloy in 200mm diameter were produced by the processesof low frequency electromagnetic casting (LFEC) and conventional direct chill (DC) casting, respectively. The effects of lowfrequency electromagnetic field on temperature field of the melt in the hot-top were investigated by temperaturemeasurement method. Temperature curves were measured from the surface to the center of the billets by locating type Kthermocouples into the casting during the processes. The results show that during LFEC process the temperature field inthe melt applying the hot-top is very uniform, which is helpful to reduce the difference of thermal gradients between thesurface and the center, and then to reduce the thermal stress and to eliminate casting crack.

Hot-top direct chill casting assisted by a twin-cooling field:Improving the ingot quality of a large-size 2024 Al alloy

Microstructure inhomogeneity and negative segregation have long been challenges for large-size alloy ingots,directly affecting the downstream processing and final performance of products.Here,we used2024 aluminum alloy as a model alloy to propose a technique,named double-cooling field casting,i.e.,one 2024 Al alloy rod(Φ20 mm)at room temperature was introduced into the melt along the central axis of the hot-top with the protection of a thermal-insulation tube during the direct chill(DC)casting process of aΦ300 mm 2024 Al alloy ingot.The results show that the introduction of the same alloy solid insert has a remarkable influence on refining grains in the center region of the ingot,reducing negative centerline segregation and decreasing the depth of the center part of the sump.With the application of the 2024 Al insert,the mean size of equiaxed grains at the center part of the ingot decreased from1204±132μm to 721±69μm.The relative deviation of the Cu and Mg main solutes reduced from-0.062 and-0.054 to-0.03 and-0.024,respectively,and the sump depth decreased from 280 mm to242 mm.Moreover,the shape of the solidification front was changed from‘V’-shaped to‘W’-shaped.The ingot quality was thus improved,mainly arising from the dissolution of the cold 2024 Al insert at a proper position of the hot-top counteracting some latent heat of solidification of the ingot,dissipating the heat of the central part of the hot-top by conducting the 2024 Al insert to the outside,and providing extra-nuclei from the unmoltenα-Al particles of the insert.