Microstructure Evolution of Cu-6%Ag Alloys by Modified Unidirectional Solidification Under a Horizontal Static Magnetic Field

The microstructure evolution of Cu dendrites in Cu-6%Ag alloys by modified unidirectional solidification under a static magnetic field has been investigated experimentally and quantitatively.The results show that the proeutectic Cu dendrites are finer when they are closer to the water-cooling copper mould and the unidirectional effect is more obvious,which is attributed to the higher solidification velocity.The quantitative analysis of the microstructure indicates that with increasing external magnetic flux density,the primary arms of the proeutectic Cu dendrites are refined and along a given direction.The analysis indicates that it is both the thermoelectromagnetic convection effect by the external magnetic field and the branch effect of the dendrites.