Horizontal continuous casting process under electromagnetic field for preparing AA3003/AA4045 clad composite hollow billets
(1. Key Laboratory of Materials Modification by Laser, Ion and Electron Beams (Ministry of Education),
School of Materials Science and Engineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, China;
2. Laboratory of Special Processing of Raw Materials, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, China)
School of Materials Science and Engineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, China;
2. Laboratory of Special Processing of Raw Materials, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, China)
Abstract: A modified horizontal continuous casting process under the electromagnetic field was proposed for preparing AA3003/ AA4045 clad composite hollow billets. To investigate the effect of electromagnetic field on this process, a comprehensive three-dimensional model was developed. Two cases with and without electromagnetic field were compared using the simulations. When rotating electromagnetic stirring is applied, the flow pattern of fluid melt is greatly modified; the mushy zone becomes much wider, the temperature profile becomes more uniform, and the solid fraction decreases for both the external and internal alloy melt layers. These modifications are beneficial for the formation of a bimetal interface and fine and uniform grain structure of the clad composite hollow billet. Experiments conducted using the same electrical and casting parameters as the simulations verify that under the electromagnetic field the microstructure of the clad composite hollow billet becomes fine and the diffusion of the elements at the interface is promoted.
Key words: aluminum alloy; clad composite; hollow billet; horizontal continuous casting; electromagnetic stirring; numerical simulation