Melt treatment by pulsed magnetic fields aimed at controlling the structure and properties of industrial silumins

Abstract

Computer modeling of main force factors when treating aluminum alloys by pulsed magnetic fields according to the radial and axial effect schemes is performed. It is established that, when using the radial scheme, the shock wave, which appears in the melt after a single pulse, affects its entire bulk for 40 μs; when using the axial scheme, this time is 416 μs. Experimental studies for industrial silumins AK6M2 and AK10M2N have confirmed the presence of a stable modifying effect under the magnetic pulsed treatment (MPT), notably, dendrite sizes of the α-Al phase and eutectic silicon crystals decrease, density and electrical conductivity increases, and alloy strength and plasticity in a cast state increase. Based on the experimental investigations, it is concluded that the MPT is most manufacturable for the axial effect scheme.