Multi-refining effects of an AC electromagnetic field on the microstructure in AA5754 laser beam welding

Fine-grain structure is beneficial to the mechanical properties of the joint. Different kinds of grain and sub-grain structures refined by magnetic field during laser beam welding of AA5754 aluminum alloy are analyzed in this manuscript, and the influences of different magnetic field parameters (magnetic flux density and frequency) in these refining effects are also studied. Using the scanning electron microscope (SEM), the sub-grain structure near the fusion line was obtained, and it was found that the branching promotion and branches refinement can be achieved by the magnetic field. The branches become finer with the magnetic flux density or frequency increases, and this effect is stronger in the dendritic region than in the equiaxed region. The results of electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) in the equiaxed region show that a high-frequency magnetic field can greatly reduce the average grain size, while a low-frequency one has little effect. A phenomenological nucleation model based on dendrite fragmentation theory was established, and it was introduced into the phase field model to analyze the equiaxed grains evolution process. In addition, another refinement mechanism was also observed. The periodic solidification pattern caused by the unstable solidification in the molten pool can refine the grains, and the magnetic field promotes this kind of grain refinement by promoting the solidification period.