Abstract
Effects of a low frequency alternating magnetic field on the solidification behavior of the Al-Fe-Si alloy were investigated. Solidification characteristics of the alloy were predicted by software Thermo-Calc and compared to the experimental observations. The solidification sequences of the alloy solidified with and without the application of the AC magnetic field were confirmed by DSC and structural measurements. Al3Fe was the dominant phase in the alloy. A small amount of α-AlFeSi phase with its characteristic dendritic or Chinese script-like morphology was observed to grow in close association with Al3Fe. Distribution of Al3Fe phase was almost homogeneous in the volume of the sample when the alloy was solidified in the conventional condition. When the AC magnetic field was imposed, the Al3Fe phase was accumulated towards the center of the sample. Macrohardness profiles were in good agreement with the structural observations.
