Observation of Pattern Formation during Electromagnetic Levitation Using High-Speed Thermography

Electromagnetic levitation (EML) was employed for studying the velocity and morphology of the solidification front as a function of undercooling of metallic materials. The limitation of the EML technique with respect to low melting alloys that emit outside the visible light spectrum was overcome by employing state-of-the-art high-speed mid-wavelength infrared cameras (MWIR cameras) with a photon detector. Due to the additional thermography contrast provided by the emission contrast of the solid and liquid phases, conductor, and semi-conductor, the pattern formation of Al-based alloys was studied in detail, revealing information on the nucleation, phase selection during solidification, and the influence of convection.

Automated summary

Electromagnetic levitation (EML) was used to study the velocity and morphology of the solidification front of metallic materials, and the limitations of EML technique were overcome by using high-speed mid-wavelength infrared cameras and photon detectors. The pattern formation of Al-based alloys was studied in detail, providing information on nucleation, phase selection, and the influence of convection.