Electric current pulse induced grain refinement in pure aluminium

In the present work, pure aluminium melt was treated using electric current pulse. The effect of current density on the solidification microstructure was investigated by means of wire netting technology. It was found that wire netting could not only effectively stop crystal nucleus to enter other zones but also has relatively small effects on the heat transfer and convection in melts. Theoretical analysis and ANSYS simulation suggested that variation of current density in different localised zones is a key factor influencing the microstructural features. Increasing the current density is favourable for the formation of equiaxed grains.