Circulation of grains during ingot casting

Abstract

A novel method based on the use of a turbulent jet has recently been proposed to minimize the degree of centerline segregation in Direct-Chill (DC) casting of aluminum ingots. The functionality of this method relies on the ability of the jet to re-suspend solute poor grains which have settled to the bottom of the molten pool. To date, the presence of these grains has mostly been acknowledged by theory and post-mortem observations. Herein are reported results of a series of experiments designed to allow the sampling of grains in DC cast ingots with and without the use of a turbulent jet. Analysis of the shape and chemical composition of the samples are reported.