Anisotropic Effect of Magnetohydrodynamics on Metal Solidification

Abstract

Anisotropic effect of magnetohydrodynamics on solidification of Pb-10%Sn alloy has been studied in a magnetic field generated by a superconducting magnet. Experimental castings have been conducted with a mold designed to solidify the alloy unidirectionally. It has been observed that equiaxed structure changes to columnar with increasing the intensity of magnetic field parallel to the solidifying direction. On the other hand, a structural change has been slightly obtained with the field perpendicular to the direction of the solidification. Transport of heat in a mercury pool examined under the various conditions of magnetic fields has revealed that temperature distribution in mercury pool is affected strongly by the direction of a magnetic field through the anisotropic effect of magnetohydrodynamics on the convection. This has demonstrated that anisotropic effect of a magnetic field gives rises to the structural change of the solidification of the metal alloy. © 1990, The Iron and Steel Institute of Japan. All rights reserved.