FLUID MECHANICS OF SPIN CASTING OF METALS

Casting of molten metals against a spinning wheel substrate is considered. Issues of fluid mechanics divide between steady and unsteady behavior (stability). The previous work on steady casting is hung on a framework provided by the long-puddle model of planar flow casting. Heat and fluid flow interact only through the shape of the solidification front in this case. In contrast, there is little previous work concerning stability issues. Stability is discussed in a broad-brush manner using the planar flow process for illustration. Issues range from meniscus motion and resulting ribbon texture to morphological-type instabilities of the solidification front. Fundamental and applied questions arise for both steady and unsteady behavior.