Refinement mechanism of low voltage pulsed magnetic field on solidification structure of silicon steel

The grain refinement of a silicon steel solidified with a low voltage pulsed magnetic field (LVPMF) was investigated by experiments and modeling. The experiment results show that complete fine equiaxed grains are acquired by applying the LVPMF. The effects of process parameters, such as the melt cooling rate and superheating on the solidification structure, were also studied. Complete fine equiaxed grains can be obtained under a larger range of cooling rate or superheating when the LVPMF is applied. The magnetic force and the melt flow during solidification were modeled and simulated to reveal the grain refinement mechanism. The simulation results show that the LVPMF has a double role in electromagnetic convection and electromagnetic vibration on the alloy melt. We propose the refining mechanism: The melt vibration and convection can promote nucleus multiplication, which contributes to heterogeneous nucleation enhancement and leads to a high nucleation rate and grain refinement.