Assessment of settling behavior of particles with different shape factors by LiMCA data analysis

Abstract

Non-metallic inclusions have a crucial impact on the quality of aluminum products and their behavior in aluminum melts needs to be understood in order to control them. Oftentimes LiMCA (Liquid Metal Cleanliness Analyzer) is used for the quantification of non-metallic inclusions in the melt. However, since LiMCA provides data with the assumption that all particles are spherical, it is currently impossible to obtain information about the particle shape during an online detection. In this work, aluminum oxide particles were added into an aluminum melt and the inclusions were detected by LiMCA in a demo-scale crucible furnace to observe how particles with different shapes settle. The effect of blocky alumina particles versus thin alumina films on the experimental results was assessed. Analytical modellings were also performed to support the experimental findings. First results on the impact of the shape factor on settling will be presented in this paper.