Scaling Analysis of Solidification of Liquid Aluminum Alloy Flowing on Cooling Slope

Among all methods of metal alloy slurry preparation, the cooling slope method is the simplest in terms of design and process control. The method involves pouring of the melt from top, down an oblique and channel shaped plate cooled from bottom by counter flowing water. The melt, while flowing down, partially solidifies and forms columnar dendrites on plate wall. These dendrites are broken into equiaxed grains and are washed away with melt. The melt, together with the equiaxed grains, forms semisolid slurry collected at the slope exit and cast into billets having non-dendritic microstructure. The final microstructure depends on several process parameters such as slope angle, slope length, pouring superheat, and cooling rate. The present work involves scaling analysis of conservation equations of momentum, energy and species for the melt flow down a cooling slope. The main purpose of the scaling analysis is to obtain a physical insight into the role and relative importance of each parameter in influencing the final microstructure. For assessing the scaling analysis, the trends predicted by scaling are compared against corresponding numerical results using an enthalpy based solidification model with incorporation of solid phase movement.     

Microstructural and Statistical Study of Semisolid Casting of 6061 Alloy Using a Miniature Cooling Slope

Preparation of metallic semisolid slurries using the cooling slope method is increasingly becoming popular because of the simplicity of design and control of the process. Microstructural features of the resultant semisolid castings such as size and sphericity of the primary particles are affected by several processing parameters such as pouring rate, cooling slope surface angle and length as well as the melt superheat. In this work, a miniature cooling slope for semisolid casting of small parts was built and attempts were made to develop an empirical relationship showing the correlation between the sphericity of the microstructure of semisolid cast 6061-aluminum alloy and the processing variables. The relationships were developed by a two-level factorial method. The results showed that the interaction of cooling slope length and pouring rate factors had the most effect on the sphericity of the final semisolid cast microstructure.     

Microstructural Evolution of A356 Al Alloy During Flow Along a Cooling Slope

Cooling slope (CS) has been used in this study to prepare semi-solid slurry of A356 Al alloy, keeping in view of slurry generation on demand for Rheo-pressure die casting process. Understanding the physics of microstructure evolution during cooling slope slurry formation is important to satisfy the need of semi-sold slurry with desired shape, size and morphology of primary Al phase. Mixture of spherical and rosette shaped primary Al phase has been observed in the samples collected during melt flow through the slope as well as in the cast (mould) samples compared to that of dendritic shape, observed in case of conventionally cast A356 alloy. The liquid melt has been poured into the slope at 650?°C temperature and during flow it falls below the liquidus temperature of the said alloy, which facilitates crystallization of ??-Al crystals on the cooling slope wall. Crystal separation due to melt flow is found responsible for nearly spherical morphology of the primary Al phase.     

Investigation of Bond Strength in Centrifugal Lining of Babbitt on Cast Iron

The quality of the bond between Babbitt metal and a cast iron substrate was evaluated for centrifugal casting and static casting using the Chalmers bond strength method and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The effect of three different centrifugal casting parameters, the speed of revolution, the pouring rate, and the cooling rate, was investigated. The bond strength and the microstructure at the bond interface were predominantly affected by the cooling rate, with a fast cooling rate resulting in better properties. The speed of revolution and the pouring rate only had a small effect on the bond strength, with faster revolution and faster pouring rate resulting in slightly better bonds.     

The effect of vacuum rarefaction during foundry by gasified models

The cooling of liquid metal in the process of filling the mold during foundry by gasified models is investigated based on an analysis of the equation of thermal conductivity during thermal destruction of the model material. It is shown that crystallization of metal is expanded top-down, and the intensity of cooling increases as the pouring rate increases and rarefaction in a casting box increases. An equation for calculating the temperature of the metal surface that takes into account the energy of thermal destruction of the model material, pouring rate, initial temperature of metal, rarefaction in the casting box, and the cross-section area of the casting during foundry by gasified models is suggested.     

Modeling on Dendrite Growth of Medium Carbon Steel during Continuous Casting

Dendrite growth is an important phenomenon during steel solidification. In the current paper, a numerical method was used to analyse and calculate the dendrite tip radius, dendrite growth velocity, liquid concentration, temperature gradient, cooling rate, secondary dendrite arm spacing, and the dendrite tip temperature in front of the solid/liquid (S/L) interface for the solidification process of medium carbon steels during continuous casting. The current model was well validated by published models and measurement data. The results show that in the continuous casting process, the dendrite growth rate is dominated by the casting speed. Dendrite growth rate, liquid concentration at the S/L interface, temperature gradient and cooling rate decrease with proceeding solidification and solid shell thickness growth, while other parameters such as dendrite tip radius, secondary dendrite arm spacing, and dendrite tip temperature in front of the S/L interface become larger with solidification progress and solid shell thickness growth. Parametric investigations were carried out. The effects of the stability coefficient, temperature gradient and casting speed on the micro‐structural parameters were discussed. Under the same conditions, higher casting speed promotes coarser secondary dendrite arm spacing and enlarges the dendrite tip radius, while decreasing temperature gradient, reducing the dendrite growth rate and making the solute distribute more uniform.     

Rheology of A356 Alloy During Solidification Under Stirring

This work presents an experimental investigation on the rheology of A356 alloy in semisolid state using a high temperature Couette type viscometer. The molten liquid, resides in the annular space between the cylinders, is stirred and cooled continuously during experiments. The stirring results in fragmentation of dendrites which are transported into bulk liquid and form a semisolid slurry. The viscosity of the slurry is distinct in nature, which depends on microstructure of the suspended dendrites after coarsening. Hence, in the work, the variation of viscosity and microstructure is captured during cooling under different process parameters such as shear rate and cooling rate. Angular velocity of the inner cylinder and torque applied to stir the slurry are recorded to determine the apparent viscosity of the slurry. Temperature of the slurry is recorded to calculate the fraction of solids present in the slurry. For micrograph analysis, a vacuum quartz tube is used to remove the slurry-samples during experiments and they are quenched them in water.     

The structure of a partially solid alloy

An apparatus is described that permits continuous production of partially solidified slurries of Sn-15 pct Pb alloy. The slurries thus produced can be cast into ingots semi-continuously. Results of earlier fundamental studies carried out on a high temperature viscometer are verified by an extensive number of experiments carried out in this apparatus. The three important process variables affecting structure and viscosity of a slurry are: average shear and cooling rates during primary solidification and volume fraction solid in the slurry. Increasing the average cooling rate makes the primary solid particles smaller and more uniform in size, but increases the amount of entrapped liquid in each particle. Increasing the average shear rate affects particle size and uniformity of size similarly, except this effect is noted only at low cooling rates. Primary solid particle size in a vigorously agitated slurry is approximately the same as primary dendrite arm spacing in a conventional casting solidified at equivalent cooling rate. As the volume fraction solid in a slurry increases, so do its primary solid particle size and viscosity.     

The structure of a partially solid alloy

An apparatus is described that permits continuous production of partially solidified slurries of Sn-15 pct Pb alloy. The slurries thus produced can be cast into ingots semi-continuously. Results of earlier fundamental studies carried out on a high temperature viscometer are verified by an extensive number of experiments carried out in this apparatus. The three important process variables affecting structure and viscosity of a slurry are: average shear and cooling rates during primary solidification and volume fraction solid in the slurry. Increasing the average cooling rate makes the primary solid particles smaller and more uniform in size, but increases the amount of entrapped liquid in each particle. Increasing the average shear rate affects particle size and uniformity of size similarly, except this effect is noted only at low cooling rates. Primary solid particle size in a vigorously agitated slurry is approximately the same as primary dendrite arm spacing in a conventional casting solidified at equivalent cooling rate. As the volume fraction solid in a slurry increases, so do its primary solid particle size and viscosity.     

Grain Boundary Characteristics of As-cast Semi-solid Processed Ultra-high Carbon Steel

The microstructure of 1.4?% carbon steel produced either by ordinary casting or semi-solid casting with different primary fraction of solids using cooling plate technique was investigated. The microstructure of ordinary ultrahigh-carbon steel (O-UHCS), was improved by the semi-solid processing. Grain boundary cementite thickness of UHCS and its morphology is affected by semi-solid process. Grain boundary cementite thickness of about 2???m can be achieved by pouring the semi-solid slurry with 0.31 fraction of solid. The pearlitic interlamellar spacing of semi-solid processed UHCS is shorter compared to O-UHCS.     

钛合金异形薄壁壳体铸造工艺数值模拟及优化

为解决钛合金精密铸造产品合格率低、试验优化周期长的问题,以某钛合金异形薄壁件为研究对象,采用逆向工程手段优化浇注系统设计。结合ProCAST有限元分析软件确定铸件缺陷分布位置,依据铸件缩松分布情况对铸造方案进行迭代优化,解决铸件承力板区域缩孔问题。根据优化结果进行生产验证,结果表明,钛合金铸件采用真空熔模铸造方案,铸件上、下端分别设置3处浇/冒口时,模拟结果显示铸件凝固过程整体温度分布合理,铸件中的缩孔均被优化剔除。该工艺方案可行性高,试制件无损检测结果与数值模拟结果吻合度高,铸件成形质量、冶金质量均达到预期效果。     

钛合金异形薄壁壳体铸造工艺数值模拟及优化

为解决钛合金精密铸造产品合格率低、试验优化周期长的问题,以某钛合金异形薄壁件为研究对象,采用逆向工程手段优化浇注系统设计。结合ProCAST有限元分析软件确定铸件缺陷分布位置,依据铸件缩松分布情况对铸造方案进行迭代优化,解决铸件承力板区域缩孔问题。根据优化结果进行生产验证,结果表明,钛合金铸件采用真空熔模铸造方案,铸件上、下端分别设置3处浇/冒口时,模拟结果显示铸件凝固过程整体温度分布合理,铸件中的缩孔均被优化剔除。该工艺方案可行性高,试制件无损检测结果与数值模拟结果吻合度高,铸件成形质量、冶金质量均达到预期效果。     

薄板坯连铸中碳钢角横裂缺陷成因及控制

 针对薄板坯连铸中碳钢边角部出现的角横裂纹缺陷,通过典型中碳钢（50CrV4）缺陷试样的金相分析、热塑性分析和铸坯二冷模拟仿真计算等方法,确定了原工艺条件下典型中碳钢铸坯边角部在铸机弯曲和矫直处的温度为850 ℃、处于第Ⅲ脆性区（650～945 ℃）是造成铸坯边角部裂纹的主要原因。结合武钢CSP铸机工艺特点,提出了连铸高拉速4.0～4.2 m/min,二冷前段强冷、后段和边部弱冷以及提高铸机设备精度等控制措施。各项措施实施后,中高碳钢铸坯边角部温度显著提升,热轧板表面横裂纹基本消失,各项性能满足客户要求。     

Effect of process parameters on transport phenomena during solidification in the presence of electromagnetic stirring

In the present work, a numerical study is performed to predict the effect of process parameters on transport phenomena during solidification of aluminium alloy A356 in the presence of electromagnetic stirring. A set of single-phase governing equations of mass, momentum, energy and species conservation is used to represent the solidification process and the associated fluid flow, heat and mass transfer. In the model, the electromagnetic forces are incorporated using an analytical solution of Maxwell equation in the momentum conservation equations and the slurry rheology during solidification is represented using an experimentally determined variable viscosity function. Finally, the set of governing equations is solved for various process conditions using a pressure based finite volume technique, along with an enthalpy based phase change algorithm. In present work, the effect of stirring intensity and cooling rate are considered. It is found that increasing stirring intensity results in increase of slurry velocity and corresponding increase in the fraction of solid in the slurry. In addition, the increasing stirring intensity results uniform distribution of species and fraction of solid in the slurry. It is also found from the simulation that the distribution of solid fraction and species is dependent on cooling rate conditions. At low cooling rate, the fragmentation of dendrites from the solid/liquid interface is more.     

双辊连铸中工艺参数对薄带凝固晶粒的影响

以低碳钢为例对双辊连铸过程进行了微观模拟。研究了浇注温度、拉坯速度、冷却强度等工艺参数对带材结晶凝固晶粒度的影响,得出了不同工艺条件对铸轧带材晶粒度的影响规律以及最佳的模拟参数。通过实验结果与数值模拟结果的对比,验证了模拟结果的正确性,说明模拟结果对实际有一定的指导意义。     

Characterization of Flow Behavior of Semi-Solid Slurries with Low Solid Fractions

Semi-solid slurry casting is a metal-forming process that involves transforming liquid metal into slurry having a low solid fraction and then forming the slurry into solid parts. To successfully apply this slurry-forming process, it is necessary to fully understand the flow behavior of semi-solid slurries. This present work applied the rapid quenching method and the modified gravity fluidity casting to investigate the flow behavior, which involves characterizations of the initial solid fraction, fluidity, and microstructure of semi-solid slurries. Three commercial aluminum alloys were used in this study: 383 (Al-Si11Cu), 356 (Al-Si7MgFe), and 7075 (Al-Zn6MgCu) alloys. The results show that the initial solid fractions can be controlled by varying the rheocasting time. The rapid quenching mold can be used to determine the initial solid fractions. In this method, it is important to apply the correcting procedure to account for growth during quenching and to include all the solid phases. Results from the fluidity study of semi-solid slurries show that the fluidity decreases as the initial solid fraction increases. The decrease is relatively rapid near the low end of the initial solid fraction curves, but is quite slow near the high end of the curves. All the three alloys follow this trend. The results also demonstrate that the slurries that contain high solid fractions of up to 30 pct can still flow well. The microstructure characterization results show that the solid particles in the slurries flow uniformly in the channel. A uniform and fine microstructure with limited phase segregation is observed in the slurry cast samples.     

末端电磁搅拌参数对帘线钢72A铸坯中心碳偏析的影响

帘线钢72A(%:0.71～0.72C、0.50～0.60Mn、0.22～0.30Si、≤0.010P、≤0.008S)的冶炼工艺流程为铁水预处理-LD-LF-RH-CC-200 mm×200 mm连铸。在连铸时钢水过热度10～20℃,拉速0.98 m/min,二冷比水量0.32 L/kg,结晶器冷却水220 m³/h,结晶器电磁搅拌1.5 Hz、500 A的条件下进行了末端电磁搅拌(F-EMS)的工艺研究。结果表明,当离钢液弯月面8 m处以18 Hz、450 A进行F-EMS,可使帘线钢72A铸坯的中心碳偏析指数≤1.05。     

Towards Efficient Modelling of Slag Entrainment during Metallurgical Processes

This paper focuses on the numerical modelling of slag entrainment in liquid metal. Due to the complexity of the multi‐phase flow situation and the inherently unsteady nature of the process, feasible simulations are restricted to rather coarse grids. Nevertheless, important flow structures like secondary suction vortices cannot be captured by an insufficiently resolved grid. As a consequence three numerical approaches are proposed in order to focus on local slag entrainment events within a global flow simulation. Firstly, in the course of Volume of Fluid (VOF) simulations the evolving metal‐slag interface is sharpened by a solution dependent adaptive grid refinement. Secondly, possible suction vortices are tested by super‐imposed Chimera grids. In this approach a finely resolved O‐shaped grid is placed around the trajectory of a representative Lagrangian fluid particle that is started from a local depression at the metal‐slag interface. Thirdly, a simplified concept of Lagrangian slag droplets is utilized in order to detect irregularly occurring flow situations that are prone to slag entrainment. These modelling approaches are applied to metallurgical processes like tundish pouring or continuous casting. With help of these slag entrainment modelling approaches a global metallurgical flow simulation can be augmented by the effect of local entrainment events.     

铝合金铸件定向凝固过程的数值模拟

为了研究铝合金定向凝固组织的变化规律，采用有限元软件ProCAST对Al Si Cu合金定向凝固过程进行模拟,分析了不同浇注温度和抽拉速率对铸件定向凝固过程中的温度梯度、固液界面前沿、糊状区宽度、枝晶生长速率和二次枝晶臂间距的影响。结果表明，当浇注温度越高时，温度梯度越大，而固液界面前沿下凹越小，糊状区宽度也越窄，从而越有利于顺序凝固的发生；随着抽拉速率的增大，枝晶生长速率先增大后减小,当抽拉速率为200 μm/s时，最大生长速度达到0.093 mm/s，铸件凝固组织最佳；当抽拉速率大于300或小于200 μm/s时，都会导致枝晶生长速率缓慢，枝晶生长不平稳，二次枝晶臂粗大。对模拟得到较优的工艺参数进行试验验证，可以制备出具有较好力学性能的铸件。     

GCr15轴承钢连铸冷却速率下凝固原位观察

GCr15轴承钢在连铸凝固过程中的组织生长与溶质偏析是碳化物液析的重要诱因,成为产品质量提升的关键.为此,针对国内某钢厂240 mm×240 mm GCr15轴承钢的连铸过程,选取方坯表面下方40、80和120 mm位置处的坯样为研究对象,首先建立二维凝固传热模型,结合红外测温试验,求解它们在糊状区的平均冷却速率,然后...