The effect of forced fluid flow on microstructure in directionally solidified Al-Si base alloys

The solidification microstructure is the consequence of a wide range of process parameters, like the growth velocity, the temperature gradient and the composition. The application of time dependent magnetic fields during directional solidification offers the possibility to create defined flow conditions in solidification processing. We report about solidification experiments with rotating magnetic fields (RMF). The effect of the forced melt flow on microstructural parameters like the primary and secondary dendrite arm spacing is analyzed for a wide range of magnetic field parameters. The experimental analysis is supported by a rigorous application of numerical modeling.