Effect of Combined Electromagnetic Fields on the Structure of a HDC Casting 2024 Al Alloy Ingot

摘要

2024 Al alloy ingot with diameter of 100 mm is produced by conventional and combined electromagnetic fields (CEMF) horizontal direction chill (HDC) casting processes. The effect of CEMF on the ingot structure is investigated. The results show that the CEMF is effective in changing the inner structure of the 2024 HDC cast ingot. In the conventional HDC ingot, feathery grains mainly distribute over the majority of the area of the ingot, and coarse equiaxed grains mixed with coarse floating grains distribute in a crescent-shaped area near the bottom surface. With the application of the CEMF, the majority of the feathery grains transform to fine equiaxed grains, and the mixture of feathery and fine grains only exist in the area near the upper surface. In addition, the coarse floating grains completely disappeared in the ingot with the application of CEMF.