MICROSTRUCTURE AND PROPERTIES OF ZL201 ALLOY OBTAINED BY NEAR-LIQUIDUS ELECTROMAGNETIC CASTING

The microstructures of ZL201 alloy slurry prepared by near-liquidus electromagnetic casting （NLEMC）, electromagnetic casting（EMC）, and near-liquidus casting（NLC） were investigated by means of electron microscopy and image analysis. Mechanical properties of as-cast alloys were determined. The results show that the NLEMC induces a fine, uniform, and equiaxed grain structure with a mean equal-area-circle grain diameter of 32.8μm. The as-cast aUoy has a hardness of HV122.8 and a tensite strength of 368MPa. Both of them are betterthan those of the alloys prepared by EMC and by NLC. The mechanism of grain refinement in the NLEMC alloy slurry was discussed.

MODELING AND EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH OF FOUR-STRAND LOW-FREQUENCY ELECTROMAGNETIC CASTING ALUMINUM ALLOY

With the aid of ANSYS software, the effect of different mould external part materials on magnetic flux density in the aluminum melt and magnetic field interaction of four coils applied with same currents were investigated. Calculating results showed that magnetic flux density in the aluminum melt was greatly improved and the magnetic field interaction among different coils was decreased when external part of mould is made of soft magnetic material. Based on the finding, a four-strand low-frequency electromagnetic casting 6063 aluminum alloy experiment was carried out in the laboratory . The experiment showed that the surface of the billet was smooth and had no exudations and cold shuts, the as-cast microstructures were fine, uniform, equiaxed, net-globular or globular under low-frequency electromagnetic field. The microstructure becomes finer with increased current value.

MEASUREMENT AND ANALYSIS OF MAGNETIC FIELDS OF ELECTROMAGNETIC CASTING ALUMINUM ALLOYS

Results of magnetic field investigation in a Kaiser type caster show that magnetic induction decays rapidly on moving inward from the outer surface and is almost doubled near corner.In the presence of screenings magnetic field strength is attenuated near periphery,but it isn't influenced within the interior.The resultant electromagnetic pressure balances with static head of liquid column,i.e,the upper magnetic induction is smaller than the lower's.However»the maximum pressure moves downward about 1 cm from half height of inductor.

Effect of Electromagnetic Frequency on Microstructures of Continuous Casting Aluminum Alloys

The relationship between electromagnetic frequency and microstructures of continuous casting aluminum alloys was studied. 7075 aluminum alloy ingot of 100 mm in diameter was produced by electromagnetic continuous casting process, the microstructures of as-cast ingot was examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) equipped with energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS). The results showed that electromagnetic frequency greatly influenced segregation and microstructures of as-cast ingot, and product quality can be guaranteed by the application of a proper frequency. Electromagnetic frequency plays a significant role in solute redistribution; low frequency is more efficient for promoting solution of alloying elements.

Nondendritic Microstructure of 6061 Alloy Obtained by Electromagnetic Casting and Thixoformed Properties

Abstraet:The semi-solid 6061 aluminum alloy castings with t'me equiaxed nondendritic grains are obtained by means of electromagnetic casting method.Appropriate casting technical parameters are casting temperature---720 ℃,casting speed---100 mm/min,cooling water amount---0.09 m^3/min.The temperature field in the electric stove reheated to the liquid-solid zone is homogeneus and the prope reheating temperature is 630 ℃.When the mould temperature is 300-500 ℃,the parts used in automobiles can be thixoformed successfully,its σ_b is 392 MPa,vigid 142.3 HV and δ_5 11.5%after T6 heat treatment.

Coupled Modeling of Electromagnetic Fleld,Fluid Flow,Heat Transfer and Solidification During Conventional DC Casting and Low Ftequency Electrmagnetic Casting of 7xxx Aluminum Alloys

A comprehensive mathematical model has been developed to describe the interaction of the multiple physics fields during the conventional DC casting and LFEC (low frequency electromagnetic casting) process. The model is based on a combination of the commercial finite element package ANSYS and the commercial finite volume package FLUENT, with the former for the calculation of the electromagnetic field and the latter for the calculation of the magnetic driven fluid flow, heat transfer and solidification. Moreover, the model has been verified against the temperature measurements obtained from two 7XXX aluminum alloy billets of 200mm diameter, cast during the conventional DC casting and the LFEC casting processes. In addition, a measurement of the sump shape of the billets were carried out by using addition melting metal of Al-30%Cu alloy into the billets during casting process. There was a good agreement between the calculated results and the measured results. Further, comparison of the calculated results during the LFEC process with that during the conventional DC casting process indicated that velocity patterns, temperature profiles and the sump depth are strongly modified by the application of a low frequency electromagnetic field during the DC casting.

Numerical Simulation of Heat Transfer and Deformation of Initial Shell in Soft Contact Continuous Casting Mold Under High Frequency Electromagnetic Field

Heat transfer and deformation of initial solidification shell in soft contact continuous casting mold under high frequency electromagnetic field were analyzed using numerical simulation method; the relative electromagnetic parameters were obtained from the previous studies. Owing to the induction heating of a high frequency electromagnetic field （20 kHz）, the thickness of initial solidification shell decreases, and the temperature of strand surface and slit copper mold increases when compared with the case without the electromagnetic filed. The viscosity of flux de- creases because of the induction heating of the high frequency electromagnetic field, and the dimension of the flux channel increases with electromagnetic pressure; thus, the deformation behavior of initial solidification shell was different before and after the action of high frequency electromagnetic field. Furthermore, the abatement mechanism of oscillation marks under high frequency electromagnetic field was explained.

A high-Nb TiAl alloy with highly refined microstructure and excellent mechanical properties fabricated by electromagnetic continuous casting

In the present research, microstructure refinement of a high-Nb TiAl alloy(Ti-48Al-8Nb-0.15B) was realized by means of the electromagnetic continuous casting(EMCC) technique. The microstructure of an ingot obtained by EMCC was analyzed using scanning electron microscopy(SEM). As compared with the raw as-cast al oy, the obtained EMCC alloy presented a much finer microstructure with lamellar colonies with a mean size of about 50-70 μm because the electromagnetic stirring broke initial dendrites and enhanced the heterogeneous nucleation. As the grains were refined, the properties of the TiAl alloy were improved significantly. This implies that the EMCC technique could offer the possibility of application for high-Nb TiAl alloys with a refined microstructure and excel ent properties to be used as a structural material.

THE COMPUTATION AND EXPERIMENT ANALYSIS OF ELECTROMAGNETIC CONTINUOUS CASTING WITH SOFT-CONTACTED MOULD

In this paper, coupling the quasi-3D numerical simulation of electromagnetic field and the experiments of continuous casting with soft-contacted mould with some metals such as tin, aluminum, copper and steel, the electromagnetic characteristics of continuous casting with soft-contacted mould is analyzed. It is shown that the electromagnetic pressure on the surface of billet is increasing with the rising of power frequency as a logarithmically parabolic function, with that of electric conductivity of billet as a power junction, and with that of the current in inductor as a parabolic junction.

ANALYSIS OF FLUID FIELD OF LIQUID METAL IN ELECTROMAGNETIC CENTRIFUGAL CASTING

Navier-Stokes equation and Lorentz force equation are used to calculate the fluid field of liquid metal of electromagnetic centrifugal casting (EMCC) in this paper. A field equation is given, which shows the azimuthal velocity closely relates to electrical conductivity, magnetic density, viscosity of liquid metal and radius of casting. The results show that the stationary magnetic field can effectively restrain the fluid flow and the relative velocity between liquid metal and casting mould and the velocity gradient at solid / liquid interface increases with rising magnetic density, which has a great effect on the solidification of liquid metal and crystal growth characteristics.

REVISED k-ε TURBULENCE MODEL IN ELECTROMAGNETIC CONTINUOUS CASTING OF MELT

The research is motivated by the ongoing the electromagnetic continuous casting of molten metal. The revised k-ε model considering the effect of magnetic field application was derived. The specific model equations for the electromagnetic braking were used to calculate the velocity distribution in the continuous casting mold of steel. The results show that the revised k-ε model considering the effect of magnetic field application tends to suppress the production of turbulence and difference between the conventional and revised k-e model is small.

As-cast structure of DC casting 7075 aluminum alloy obtained under dual-frequency electromagnetic field

We have experimentally determined the as-cast structures of semi-continuous casting 7075 aluminum alloy obtained in the pres-ence of dual-frequency electromagnetic field. Results suggest that the use of dual-frequency electromagnetic field during the semi-continuous casting process of 7075 aluminum alloy ingots reduces the thickness of the surface segregation layer, increases the height of the melt menis-cus, enhances the surface quality of the ingot, and changes the surface morphology of the melt pool. Moreover, low-frequency electromag-netic field was found to show the most obvious influence on improving the as-cast structure because of its high permeability in conductors.

Mould filling ability and microstructure of aluminum alloy under electromagnetic die casting

In order to solve the mould filling problem of large thin walled aluminum alloy castings effectively, a new casting technology called electromagnetic die casting has been developed. Emphasis has laid on studying the mould filling ability and microstructure under the mentioned method. The results show that the mould filling ability of A357 is increasing continually with the increasing of the input voltage, that is, the magnetic induction intensity. The pressure head of the molten metal increases from the lowest one at the input of the mould to the highest one at the end of the mould while in a conventional mould the pressure head depends invariably on the sprue height. Under electromagnetic die casting, the grains of A357 alloy are refined, and the pattern of eutectic silicon of alloy changes from rough plate to smooth strip.

Optimization of strand and final electromagnetic stirrers of round bloom casters with multiple sections

Strand electromagnetic stirring（S-EMS） and final electromagnetic stirring（F-EMS） are the main methods used to improve the center porosity and segregation for round blooms. To optimize the stirring conditions, nail shooting tests were conducted for three sections of large round blooms with diameters of ф380 mm, ф450 mm, and ф600 mm. Acid leaching and sulfur print tests were used to investigate the shell thickness. Based on the results of nail shooting tests, a mathematical model of solidification was established, and the variation of shell thickness and the central solid fraction were exactly calculated by the model. By taking all sections into account, the locations of S-EMS and F-EMS were optimized for each section. In the results, the macro-segregation of various sections is improved after the locations of S-EMS and F-EMS systems are changed.

LFEC and LFEVC of AZ80 magnesium alloy

The effects of a low frequency electromagnetic field and a low frequency electromagnetic vibration field applied during DC casting of AZ80 Mg on microstructures and alloying element distribution in ingots were investigated.The experiments were performed both in absence and in the presence of the magnetic fields.In DC casting,the ingot exhibited coarse microstructure and severe segregation of Al.In the presence of solo low frequency alternating magnetic field,namely LFEC,the grains of the ingot was effectively refined and the segregation of Al was significantly decreased.In LFEVC,namely low frequency electromagnetic vibration casting,the ingot were significantly refined and the segregation was suppressed.With increasing the vibration intensities,the grain refinement and segregation suppression were increased.

The Research on Soft-Contacting Electromagnetic Continuous Casting in Baosteel

The paper introduces the research and new development on soft-contacting electromagnetic continuous casting in Baosteel.At the year of 2008,Baosteel successfully completed the carbon steel SCEMCC industrial experiment in a 6-strand curved type round billet caster.At the year of 2011,Baosteel selected another 3-strand curved billet caster. Baosteel successfully developed the SCEMCC mold for the first time to do the industrial production experiment for stainless steel round billet continuous casting.Then,in the same stainless steel caster,the square billet SCEMCC mold was successfully developed too.And at the beginning of the year 2012,the square billet SCEMCC of SUS304 and SUS303Cu was implemented up to now.It was proved the machine system was reliable for the long time production.The industrial experimental result shows the soft-contacting electromagnetic continuous casting can reduce the depth of oscillation mark from about 0.7mm to near zero.The SCEMCC billets without surface grinding were transferred to mill tubes,of which the quality is satisfied.

Temperature simulation of EMC aluminum ingot with induced heat

The numerical simulation of temperature field of electromagnetic casting (EMC) aluminum ingots is an effective and also necessary approach to study the temperature field and forecast the quality of EMC ingot, or optimize the technological parameters. In EMC, the alternating electromagnetic field can produce induced current and heat within the surface layer. To calculate the temperature field precisely, the induced heat should be taken into account. The induced heat has been coupled into the calculation formula of temperature field of unit volume per unit time, which provides a convenient and also precise method to calculate the temperature field. Besides, the effect of induced heat on the temperature field of ingot has been simulated and discussed. The results show that the induced heat has large influences on the height of liquid column and the surface temperature of ingot. [

Calculation of power consumption and induced heat for EMC aluminum ingots

The electrical parameters and power consumption in electromagnetic casting of aluminum ingots were calculated and discussed in detail. Moreover, the induced heat was calculated with the eddy current within the liquid column. It is found that the calculated values agree with the measured results. Once the inductor current was given, the magnetic flux density in electromagnetic casting could be calculated and the electromagnetic pressure could be obtained. The key to the EMC is the balance between the electromagnetic pressure and the metallostatic pressure. As the liquid column, controlled by the casting speed and pouring speed through a magnetic sensor, is kept away from the inductor, a gap forms linear relationship between the inductor and ingot. The bigger the current is, the smaller the ingot size is.[

Numerical Simulation of the Electromagnetic Continuous Casting for Clad Slab

In this paper,a new electromagnetic continuous casting process to prepare clad slab is presented.The influence of level direct current electromagnetic field on temperature and flow fields of the melt during the fabrication of clad slab were numerically studied by the engineering software ANSYS and FLUENT.The results indicated that when the magnetic flux density(B)was 0.15 T,the impact velocity and distance of the flow to the narrow face and underside of the dividing plate decreased remarkably.So the flow impact to the liquid pool was reduced.At the same time,the high temperature zone of the melt moved away from the narrow face and the dividing plate,and distributed more uniformly. The wider semi-solid area next to the dividing plate was useful for 3003 and 4004 aluminum alloys to bond.

Preparation of 3003/4045 Cladding Hollow Billets by Horizontal Electromagnetic Continuous Casting

The 3003/4045 aluminum alloys cladding hollow billets with the diameter of 60 mm and external thickness of 3 mm are fabricated by horizontal electromagnetic continuous casting.The surface features of ingots and microstructures of the bonding interface are observed.The results show that cladding hollow billets combine the external and internal layers by metallurgical bonding without mixing when the pouring temperature of the external liquid metal is 903 K.The diffusion region with the thickness of 25 μm can be seen clearly,where mutual diffusion of Si and Mn atoms takes place. In addition,the intermetallic compound Al_(12)(FeMn)_3Si_2 is formed in the interface.