Morphology and Distribution of α-Al and Mn-rich Phases in Al-Si-Mn Alloys under an Electromagnetic Stirring

Convection caused by gravity and forced flow are present during casting. The effect of forced convection generated by a rotating magnetic field on the microstructure and precipitating phases in eutectic and hypoeutectic AlSiMn alloys was studied in solidification by a low cooling rate and low temperature gradient. The chemical composition of alloys was selected to allow joint growth or independent growth of occurring α-Al, α-Al15Si2Mn4 phases and Al-Si eutectics. Electromagnetic stirring caused instead of equiaxed dendrites mainly rosettes, changed the AlSi eutectic spacing, decreased the specific surface Sv and increased secondary dendrite arm spacing λ2 of α-Al, and modified the solidification time. Forced flow caused complex modification of pre-eutectic and inter-eutectic Mn-phases (Al15Si2Mn4) depending on the alloy composition. By high Mn content, in eutectic and hypoeutectic alloys, stirring caused reduction in the number density and a decrease in the overall dimension of pre-eutectic Mn-phases. Also across cylindrical sample, specific location of occurring phases by stirring was observed. No separation effect of Mn-phases by melt flow was observed. The study provided an understanding of the forced convection effect on individual precipitates and gave insight of what modifications can occur in the microstructure of castings made of technical alloys with complex composition.