Microstructure evolution of 3003/4004 clad ingots under diverse physical fields

In order to improve the quality of clad ingots, diverse physical fields including electromagnetic stirring, power ultrasonic and compound field of ultrasonic and electromagnetic stirring were attempted to prepare clad ingots of 3003/4004 alloys. The solidification structures near the interface in clad ingots were investigated. The experiment results indicate that the solidification structure of 4004 alloy changes from dendritic crystals to petal-like grains when the clad ingot is treated by electromagnetic stirring. With the effect of power ultrasonic, the solidified microstructure of 4004 alloy exhibits the refinement of both primary alpha(Al) and eutectic silicon. Under the compound field, the primary alpha(Al) is refined, the morphology of eutectic silicon has a transition from a coarse plate-like form without treatment or thin acicular-like form with power ultrasonic to fine coral-like form.