A semi-empirical mathematical model to estimate the duration of the atmosphere within a double oxide film defect in pure aluminum alloy

It has been shown that the oxygen and nitrogen within the atmosphere of a double oxide film defect can be consumed by the surrounding Al melt. Experimentally determined reaction rates were used to construct a semi-empirical model to predict the change in volume with time of a bubble of air trapped in an Al melt, with the model including the diffusion of H from the metal into the bubble. Comparison with experimental results showed that the model predicted the change in volume well. The model was then used to estimate the duration of the internal atmosphere within double oxide film defects, which suggested that these would be consumed in a time of up to 3 minutes, depending upon assumptions made about the initial defect size.