Numerical simulation of temperature distribution and heat transfer during solidification of titanium alloy ingots in vacuum arc remelting process

In order to get a better understanding of the vacuum consumable arc remelting(VAR) processes and thus to optimize them,a 3D finite element model was developed for the temperature fields and heat transfer of titanium alloy ingots during VAR process.The results show that the temperature fields obtained by the simulation are well validated through the experiment results.The temperature distribution is different during the whole VAR process and the steady-state molten pool forms at 329 s for d100 mm × 180 mm ingots.At the initial stage of remelting,the heat dissipation of crucible bottom plays an important role in the whole heat dissipation system.At the middle of remelting,the crucible wall becomes a major heat dissipation way.The effect of cooling velocity on the solidification structure of ingots was investigated based on the temperature fields and the results can well explain the macrostructure of titanium alloy ingots.

Influence of Electromagnetic Stirring on the Macrosegregation in Arc Remelted Ti and Zr Alloy Ingots

A numerical model of the VAR process has been developed in close collaboration with titanium and zirconium producers.The model is based on the solution of the coupled heat,mass and momentum transport equations in the whole ingot(liquid pool,mushy zone and solidified part)using a finite volume method.It accounts for electromagnetic stirring, buoyancy flows and turbulence effects.Solidification mechanisms implemented in the model include a full coupling between energy and solute transport in the mushy zone.The numerical model has been applied to simulate the remelting of Ti6-4.The influence of the applied magnetic field on the fluid flow and segregation behaviour,for a number of different stirring practices,is presented and discussed.Also,the macrosegregation in Zy4 ingots is investigated.The comparison between the predicted segregation and the experimental results shows the importance of accounting for both the stirring and thermosolutal convection to forecast properly the segregation in remelted ingots.

VAR制备TiAl合金铸锭的高温本构模型及挤压过程的数值模拟

采用Gleeble热压缩试验建立了真空自耗法制备φ220 mm TiAl合金铸锭的高温变形本构方程,将该本构方程嵌入Deform-3D软件后对不同工艺条件下TiAl合金铸锭的热挤压过程进行了数值模拟,获得了在不同模具锥角及不同挤压速度下棒材内的等效应变场、温度场,得出70%变形量下TiAl合金最佳的挤压工艺。研究发现,模具锥角对棒材等效应变场、温度场和均匀变形区尺寸均有较大影响;而挤压速度对棒材等效应变场影响不大,但对棒材的温度场有显著影响。

VAR过程电弧等离子体的电磁特性研究

依据磁流体动力学及等离子体物理学理论,建立三维有限元模型对VAR过程电弧区电磁场进行数值模拟,并以此分析其对铸锭质量的影响。结果表明,熔炼电极底部的电流密度和电磁力均最大;随着径向距离的增加,熔池表面的电流密度逐渐减小,焦耳热逐渐降低;弧长较大时,熔池表面的电磁力几乎不变;弧长较小时,随着径向距离的增大,电磁力先增大后减小。熔池表面的焦耳热随着弧长的增加而降低,但当弧长由45 mm增至50 mm时,焦耳热降低并不明显。弧压的增加会使得熔池表面的焦耳热增大。

Ф200mm TiAl合金VAR铸锭热变形行为研究

采用Gleeble-1500热模拟试验机研究了应变速率为10^-3～1s^-1、变形温度为1000-1200℃条件下，200mm直径TiAl合金VAR铸锭的热变形行为。结果表明，TLAl合金为负温度敏感和正应变速率敏感材料。当变形温度较低、应变速率较高时，变形过程中易产生绝热剪切带，导致不均匀塑性变形。TiAl合金VAR铸锭热变形过程中，再结晶首先在柱状晶晶界发生，随变形量的增加而增加，再结晶逐渐向晶内扩展，直至发生完全再结晶。

Numerical Simulation of Fluid Flow Caused by Buoyancy Forces During Vacuum Arc Remelting Process

The metallurgical structure and composition of ingots which depend critically on the fluid motion within the molten pool during the vacuum arc remelting(VAR)process have important effect on the subsequent mechanical processes like forging,rolling and welding.In order to determine the fluid motion of molten pool,a 2D finite element model is established using ANSYS10.0 software,combined with the turbulent fluid flow and heat transfer.The fluid motion caused by thermo buoyancy forces is investigated at different VAR processes in the present study.The results indicate that the fluid flows symmetrically along the axis of the molten pool and clockwisely along the circle at the right pool’s profile.It is also shown that the maximum velocity increases with increasing melting rate and a direct proportional relationship exists.

Investigation of the stress rupture behavior of GTD-111 superalloy melted by VIM/VAR

The effects of vacuum induction melting(VIM) and vacuum arc remelting(VAR) processes on the microstructure and stress rupture properties of Ni-based GTD-111 superalloy were investigated. Samples of GTD-111 master alloy were melted in VIM and VAR furnaces and then poured into a preheated ceramic mold for VIM melt or into a water-cooled copper mold for VAR melt. The as-cast samples were examined radiographically to ensure that no casting defects were present in the final castings; the samples were then heat-treated using a standard heat-treatment cycle. The microstructure of the samples was investigated using optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy in conjunction with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy for microanalysis. On the basis of standard ASTM-E139, stress rupture tests were carried out at 1000°C under a stress of 300 MPa. The results showed that a γ matrix, fine γ′ precipitates, a γ–γ′ eutectic structure, carbide particles, and some harmful phases such as σ and η phases were present in the as-cast samples. The γ′ precipitates with cubic morphology appeared in the matrix after the standard heat-treatment process. The extent of segregation and the amount of γ–γ′ eutectic structure formed in the VAR-prepared sample were less than in the VIM-prepared sample. The results of stress rupture tests showed that the rupture time for the VAR sample was 43% longer than that for the VIM sample.

Effect of Remelting Current on Molten Pool Profile of Titanium Alloy Ingot During Vacuum Arc Remelting Process

The performance of vacuum arc remelting (VAR) ingot depends largely on ingot structure and chemical uniformity,which are strongly influenced by molten pool profile that is influenced by VAR process.To better understand the effect of remelting current on molten pool profile of titanium alloy ingot during VAR process,a 3D finite element model is developed by the ANSYS software.The results show that there are three remelting stages during VAR process when the remelting current is 2.0 kA.The molten pool depth increases gradually from 30 to 320 s,then the change of molten pool depth is very small during the steady state stage from 320 to 386 s,and lastly the molten pool depth becomes shallow after 386 s.The melting rate and temperature of superheat increase with the remelting current increasing,which leads to the augment of molten pool volume.In the end,the total remelting time and steady state molten pool time decrease with the melting current from 1.6 to 2.8 kA.

GH4742合金真空自耗铸锭中夹杂物分布特征

以ϕ570 mm的合金锭作为自耗重熔的电极,通过起弧、稳定熔炼和热封顶三个阶段,制备ϕ660 mm的真空自耗铸锭,熔炼过程共历时860 min。采用场发射电子扫描显微镜和夹杂物自动扫描系统,分析了真空自耗重熔GH4742合金工业铸锭内部及其特征位置(锭冠、搁架、橘皮)处夹杂物的分布规律。结果表明,GH4742合金真空自耗铸锭中夹杂物的类型主要有Ti(C,N)、LaAlO_(3)-Ti(C,N)、Ti(C,N)-(Ti,Nb,Mo)C及LaAlO_(3)-Ti(C,N)-(Ti,Nb,Mo)C四种。夹杂物的尺寸主要以<3μm的小尺寸夹杂物为主,从中心到边缘夹杂物的尺寸逐渐降低,夹杂物的数量密度逐渐增多。铸锭中部中心处夹杂物的尺寸最大,最大平均尺寸为4.14μm。铸锭底部中心处的夹杂物数量最少,数量密度为13.23个/mm^(2)。铸锭锭冠、橘皮及搁架处分布着聚集的氧化物夹杂,这是电极上脱落的氧化物在熔池流动作用下运动到铸锭边缘,被边缘凝固区域捕捉形成的。

真空自耗电弧重熔凝固过程的计算机模拟

真空电弧重熔(Vacuum Arc Remelting,VAR)工艺参数显著影响铸锭质量,采用计算机模拟技术可以有效预测各种工艺参数对铸锭凝固过程的影响。本工作介绍了国外对VAR工艺中计算机模拟熔池形状、流场、温度场及铸锭微观组织演化的最新进展。其模拟结果和实验值具有较高的吻合度。

真空自耗电弧熔炼过程中电磁场的数值模拟

采用ANSYS10.0软件建立电磁搅拌条件下真空自耗电弧熔炼过程三维电磁场数学模型,计算电流密度和磁场强度,并对比分析搅拌磁场对电磁力的影响。结果表明:电流沿坩埚壁向下流动,并在铸锭与坩埚的接触部位转为横向流动,在铸锭表面横向电流最大;随着熔炼的进行,铸锭上部自感磁场基本不变,下部的自感磁场强度减小;搅拌磁场的添加使得铸锭表面产生水平旋转洛伦兹力,且磁感应强度和功率损失随电流频率的增大而增大。

工业尺寸TiAl合金铸锭高温变形行为

采用Gleeble-1500研究了在应变速率为10-3s-1～10-1s-1和变形温度为1000℃～1200℃条件下,真空自耗方法制备180mm直径TiAl合金铸锭的热变形行为,并建立了高温变形的本构方程。结果表明,合金变形的流变应力对温度和应变速率敏感,铸态合金的热变形激活能为335.5kJ/mol,所建立的变形本构方程,可为制定工业尺寸TiAl合金铸锭的热加工工艺提供参考。

真空自耗电弧熔炼中电磁搅拌的数值模拟

利用ANSYS软件对真空自耗电弧熔炼的电磁搅拌过程进行三维模拟计算,分析重熔电流、磁场和洛伦兹力的分布情况,讨论了搅拌线圈对磁场和搅拌力的影响。结果表明:重熔电流从坩埚壁经熔池表面流回电极,铸锭和坩埚底部几乎没有电流;重熔电流产生环绕对称轴的磁场,磁场强度从电极中心到坩埚外壁呈先增大后减小的趋势;搅拌线圈产生平行于对称轴的磁场,其磁感应强度在铸锭部分呈均匀分布;施加搅拌线圈产生了使熔池发生旋转的洛伦兹力。

真空自耗凝壳炉直接熔配和铸造钛合金件的工艺研究

通过用真空自耗电极电弧凝壳熔铸炉,直接在熔化电极上配制合金,经一次熔炼后浇注成钛合金铸件。文中着重探讨了合金化的机理,并对熔铸后的钛合金铸件进行了化学成分分析、合金化均匀性、力学性能和金相组织的检验。证明了该熔铸工艺的可行性。

熔速对IN718合金真空自耗铸锭组织的影响

以IN718合金&#x03D5;508 mm真空自耗铸锭为研究对象,采用光学显微镜和扫描电镜等研究了低、中和高3种熔速下其低倍、高倍的组织特征。结果表明:不同熔速铸锭两侧枝晶生长方式基本相同,边缘均是细密的柱状枝晶;随着熔速升高熔池明显加深,铸锭两侧对称性变差,柱状晶生长方向与轴向的角度增大,铸锭中心部位组织由柱状晶向等轴晶转化;随熔速升高铸锭中心和R/2部位的二次枝晶间距略有增大,中心部位二次枝晶间距稍大于R/2部位;高熔速的中心和R/2部位二次枝晶干变得粗大,甚至出现互相熔合的现象;不同熔速对铸锭中Laves相析出数量影响不大;而在同一熔速下铸锭Laves相析出数量中心部位多于R/2部位,明显高于边缘部位。

GH4742合金真空自耗重熔过程碳化物析出行为

真空自耗重熔高温合金铸锭内各区域传热条件不同,造成铸锭中碳化物的形态与尺寸分布存在显著差异。以工业真空自耗熔炼的GH4742合金为原料,采用扫描电镜显微分析和金相定量分析方法研究铸锭不同位置碳化物析出行为和微观组织分布情况,辅以MeltFlow-VAR模拟软件,分析重熔凝固过程不同冷却速率和局部凝固时间对碳化物的影响。结果表明:GH4742合金碳化物析出相中富集Nb、Ti元素,Nb元素偏析程度最大;析出相的面积由中心向边缘递减,形态由骨骼状、草书体状向互相连接的细小条状转变;冷却速率增大,枝晶更加细长紧密,枝晶间距减小;析出相面积与二次枝晶间距呈线性相关,增大冷却速率可以降低枝晶间距,从而有效缩小碳化物析出相的面积。

锆合金真空自耗熔炼补缩工艺研究

研究了锆合金真空自耗熔炼补缩工艺,分析了补缩电流、正常熔炼电流与坩埚直径、补缩电压和补缩时间对锆合金铸锭补缩效果的影响。结果表明,6 kA电流的保持时间对冒口深度影响很大,冒口深度随保持时间的增加而减小;正常熔炼电流和坩埚直径变大时,增加电流降低级数有利于补缩效果。适宜的补缩制度为:准720 mm铸锭电流降低,控制在3级;准820 mm铸锭电流降低,控制在5级;适当延长6 kA电流的保持时间,补缩时间控制在80 min左右。在该补缩工艺下,准820 mm的锆合金铸锭冒口深度可降低至65 mm。

铸锭成分对TC4钛合金相变点及锻造组织的影响

分析了经VAR法3次熔炼的TC4铸锭横、纵向成分,并用理论公式计算出铸锭不同部位的相变点。分析了相变点的变化差异,并对比了相变点的计算值和实测值。结果表明,实验铸锭不同部位相变点差别很大,最高约20℃,差异最大点在铸锭冒口端。

大规格TC4铸锭真空自耗电弧熔炼控制方式对比

为了选择合适的真空自耗电弧熔炼控制方式,在生产规格为准820mm的TC4钛合金铸锭时,采用了电流控制和熔速控制两种不同的熔炼控制方式。对比分析了两种控制方式对熔炼参数的变化、铸锭化学成分、表面质量以及成材率的影响。结果表明:两种控制方式下铸锭化学成分分布均匀性相当,但熔速控制方式下正常熔炼阶段实际熔速的波动小,且铸锭的表面质量良好和成材率高。在实际生产中熔速可选用电流控制下电流B(21～28kA)所对应的熔速。

真空自耗电弧炉系统优化控制策略研究

为了研究真空自耗电弧炉在特殊钢冶炼过程中偏弧现象的形成原因、检测方法和改善措施,以降低产品的次品率和切除量,针对某电弧炉弧压、熔速和弧位等关键变量,设计了优化控制策略。首先,分析了真空自耗电弧炉的系统结构,基于Biot-Savart定律与数值算例,讨论了偏弧的成因;然后,研究了一种使用四个电磁传感器来检测电弧中心位置的方法;最后,基于“弧位检测—熔速与稳弧线圈修正”思想,提出了一种系统优化策略,并在MATLAB-Simulink平台上进行了仿真。仿真结果表明,偏弧现象与弧压、电流、弧长密切相关,且弧压与熔速相互耦合。因此,所提出的优化策略将弧位检测结果作为反馈量,通过弧压、熔速和稳弧线圈修正以改善偏弧是一种有效方法。