Microstructural evolution of electromagnetically stirred Al alloy during isothermal reheating in solid-liquid region

Abstract

The effects of reheating in solid-liquid region on the microstructure of electromagnetically stirred Al alloy have been investigated. The billet of Al alloy was produced at a various casting speed from 200 to 500 nun/min in a continuous casting machine with an electromagnetic stirring device. The microstructure of the billet, which was isothermally reheated in a solid-liquid region during holding for from 0.5 to 15 min, was examined. The roundness and size of primary a phase of electromagnetic stirred Al alloy was measured according to the reheating time. The roundness of primary a phase was obtained a minimum during holding for from 3 to 7 min at a holding temperature of 584 degrees C and was deteriorated at a longer reheating time due to a dominant coalescence. Also the spheroidization of primary a phase during reheating in solid-liquid region was significantly dependent on initial microstructure of the billet.