Alignment of weakly magnetic metals during solidification in a strong magnetic field

Systematic understanding on the magnetic alignment and adjustment on mechanical properties of a weakly magnetic metal were carried out. The application of a sufficiently strong magnetic field modifies the nature of solidification by means of the magnetic anisotropic property of weak magnetic crystals. With a range of characterization techniques, the effects of different factors, i.e. magnetic flux density, copper/eutectic content, on the magnetic alignment were considered. Lotgering factor and magnetic energy were further introduced to evaluate the magnetic alignment and the alignment mechanisms. The magnetic alignment process for primary phase in the present case tends to be prompt. Subsequently, magnetic field effect on the anisotropic properties of the Al2Cu phase was checked together with understanding its crystallography. The present research provides a better understanding of the strong magnetic field effects on solidification and also a potential method for Al-Cu structural materials preparation. (c) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.