Grain Refinement and Nanoparticle Dispersion Using Traveling Magnetic Field

Improvement in the mechanical properties of different alloys can be achieved by the reduction of the crystallite (grain) size and promoting an equiaxed microstructure. This can be achieved by the use of micro- and nano-particles as grain refiners, effectively dispersed within the material. Simap lab has developed a Bridgman furnace equipped with a traveling magnetic field (TMF) with the objective to produce grain refinement in alloys. TMF is utilized to stir molten material and disperse the particles within the matrix material. In addition, TMF-induced stirring will increment the nucleation points due to the breaking of the dendritic arms at the solidification front, and homogenize the temperature of the liquid metal, which also helps to produce equiaxed dendrites. Experiments carried out, supported with numerical simulations performed by University of Greenwich and ESI Group, will demonstrate the benefits obtained from the use of TMF combined with an accurate temperature control.