1989 Volume 29 Issue 12 Pages 1040-1047
The magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) behaviours of liquid metal located in AC magnetic field are studied both by the simulation experiments using mercury and by the numerical analyses. By imposing AC magnetic field on a mercury pool, (i) the meniscus shapes convexity, (ii) the characteristic flow pattern is generated, and (iii) the ferrostatic pressure gradient decreases below the meniscus.
Based on the results of this fundamental study, a novel application of electromagnetic field has been proposed to control the early solidification phenomena in the continuous casting mold for steel. The simulation experiments of continuous casting of billet, in which Sn-10%Pb alloy is continuously cast with a stearic acid substituting for a mold flux, has been conducted by using the same type of electromagnetic field as above at the early solidification region. Consequently the depth of oscillation marks on the surface of billet is reduced remarkably. In addition to this, the change of morphology of the cast structure from columner to equiaxed has been observed.
