4.6 Article

Contactless Ultrasonic Cavitation in Alloy Melts

Journal

MATERIALS
Volume 12, Issue 21, Pages -

Publisher

MDPI
DOI: 10.3390/ma12213610

Keywords

ultrasonic treatment; contactless sonotrode; induction processing; grain refinement

Funding

  1. ExoMet Project (EC) [FP7-NMP3-LA-2012-280421]
  2. EPSRC [EP/P034411/1, EP/R002037/1, EP/R000239/1]
  3. EPSRC [EP/P034411/1, EP/R002037/1] Funding Source: UKRI

Ask authors/readers for more resources

A high frequency tuned electromagnetic induction coil is used to induce ultrasonic pressure waves leading to cavitation in alloy melts. This presents an alternative 'contactless' approach to conventional immersed probe techniques. The method can potentially offer the same benefits of traditional ultrasonic treatment (UST) such as degassing, microstructure refinement and dispersion of particles, but avoids melt contamination due to probe erosion prevalent in immersed sonotrodes, and it can be used on higher temperature and reactive alloys. An added benefit is that the induction stirring produced by the coil, enables a larger melt treatment volume. Model simulations of the process are conducted using purpose-built software, coupling flow, heat transfer, sound and electromagnetic fields. Modelling results are compared against experiments carried out in a prototype installation. Results indicate strong melt stirring and evidence of cavitation accompanying acoustic resonance. Up to 63% of grain refinement was obtained in commercial purity (CP-Al) aluminium and a further 46% in CP-Al with added Al-5Ti-1B grain refiner.

Authors

I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.

Reviews

Primary Rating

4.6
Not enough ratings

Secondary Ratings

Novelty
-
Significance
-
Scientific rigor
-
Rate this paper

Recommended

No Data Available
No Data Available