Al-4%Fe, Al-12%Ni, Al-3%Mn, and Al-40%Cu alloys were solidified in the magnetic field of 19-74K oersted. The structure of solidified ingot was observed as follows:
(1) It was found that the effects of the magnetic field on the structure of Al-Fe alloys was most remarkable. The primary crystals of FeAl
3 in the eutectic matrix were regularly arranged in layers in perpendicular to the magnetic flux. Both of aluminum and FeAl
3 are paramagnetic materials; however, the susceptibility of the latter is fairly higher as compared with that of the former as seen in Fig. 1. Consequently, the primary crystals of FeAl
3 revolved to the preferred direction in the molten bath by the action of the magnetic field.
(2) The direction of the crystal growth of FeAl
3 was almost perpendicular to the magnetically predominant direction of that crystal; the former was found to be [001] of monoclinic system and the latter was [010].
(3) Each of the arrangements of primary crystals of NiAl
3, MnAl
6, and CuAl
2 was not so regular as that of FeAl
3. But the growth of primary crystals of the each alloy was strongly promoted to be in coarse size. It is suggested that these phenomena resulted from the prevention of convection current in the molten bath by the magnetic force.
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