The mold filling and solidification process of a marine propeller hub were simulated using ProCAST. Three casting processes–gravity casting, centrifugal casting and low pressure casting–were compared in order to get the best process. The heat transfer coefficient of the casting/mold interface was determined using a reverse method. The simulated results of velocity, temperature and shrinkage porosity distribution were discussed in detail for the three casting processes. A smooth filling was found in all three casting processes, especially the low pressure casting exhibiting a better filling performance than the other two, but the solidification processes were different. The casting did not experience the sequential solidification, and the feeding paths were blocked, leading to shrinkage porosity defects in the riser and the bottom of the casting in gravity casting and in the upper zone of the casting in low pressure casting. While, the sequential solidification was well controlled in the solidification process of centrifugal casting, and majority of the shrinkage porosity defects can only be observed in the riser. It could be concluded that the centrifugal casting process is the most suitable casting process for the production of propeller hub body. The casting experiments verified the simulation results, and a defect-free propeller hub was obtained by centrifugal casting with a rotational speed of 150 r·min-1.
Wang TongminLi JiaWu LiJie JinchuanCao ZhiqiangKang Huijun
The combined effects of direct current pulsed magnetic field （DC-PMF） and inoculation on pure aluminum were investigated, the grain refinement behavior of DC-PMF and inoculation was discussed. The experimental results indicate that the solidification micro structure of pure aluminum can be greatly refined under DC-PMF. Refinement of pure aluminum is attributed to electromagnetic undercooling and forced convection caused by DC-PMF. With single DC-PMF, the grain size in the equiaxed zone is uneven. However, under DC-PMF, by adding 0.05% （mass fraction） Al5Ti-B, the grain size of the sample is smaller, and the size distribution is more uniform than that of single DC-PMF. Furthermore, under the combination of DC-PMF and inoculation, with the increase of output current, the grain size is further reduced. When the output current increases to 100 A, the average grain size can decrease to 113 μn.
A nickel-based coating was deposited on the pure Al substrate by immersion plating,and the Al/Cu bimetals were prepared by diffusion bonding in the temperature range of 450-550 ℃.The interce microstructure and fracture surface of Al/Cu joints were studied by scanning electron microscopy（SEM） and X-ray diffraction（XRD）.The mechanical properties of the Al/Cu bimetals were measured by tensile shear and microhardness tests.The results show that the Ni interiayer can effectively eliminate the formation of Al-Cu intermetallic compounds.The Al/Ni interface consists of the Al3Ni and Al3Ni2 phases,while it is Ni-Cu solid solution at the Ni/Cu interce.The tensile shear strength of the joints is improved by the addition of Ni interiayer.The joint with Ni interiayer annealed at 500 ℃ exhibits a maximum value of tensile shear strength of 34.7 MPa.
Separation of primary Si phase and removal of boron in the primary Si phase during the solidification process of the Al-30%Si-10%Sn melt under a traveling magnetic field(TMF) were investigated. The results showed that the agglomeration layer of the primary Si can be formed in the periphery of the ingot while the inner microstructures mainly consist of the eutectic α-Al+Si and β-Sn phases. The intense melt flow carries the bulk liquid with higher Si content to promote the growth of the primary Si phase which is first precipitated close to the inner wall of crucible with a relatively lower temperature, resulting in the remarkable segregation of the primary Si phase. The content of impurity B in the primary Si phase can be removed effectively with an increase in magnetic flux intensity. The results of electron probe microanalysis(EPMA) clearly indicated that the average intensity of the B Ka line in the α-Al phase region of Al-Si-Sn alloy is higher in the case of solidification under TMF than that of normal solidification condition, suggesting that the electromagnetic stirring can promote the B removal from the primary Si phase.
A modified horizontal continuous casting process under the electromagnetic field was proposed for preparing AA3003/ AA4045 clad composite hollow billets. To investigate the effect of electromagnetic field on this process, a comprehensive three-dimensional model was developed. Two cases with and without electromagnetic field were compared using the simulations. When rotating electromagnetic stirring is applied, the flow pattern of fluid melt is greatly modified; the mushy zone becomes much wider, the temperature profile becomes more uniform, and the solid fraction decreases for both the external and internal alloy melt layers. These modifications are beneficial for the formation of a bimetal interface and fine and uniform grain structure of the clad composite hollow billet. Experiments conducted using the same electrical and casting parameters as the simulations verify that under the electromagnetic field the microstructure of the clad composite hollow billet becomes fine and the diffusion of the elements at the interface is promoted.
The three dimensional(3D) microstructures of Al-Bi alloys with different grain refiners(Al-5Ti-B, Al-3B and Al-3Ti) have been studied using synchrotron X-ray microtomography. The relationships between the microstructures and the corresponding wear behavior are verified through the friction and wear tests. The worn surfaces of the samples with grain refiners tested under 15 and 60 N loads are analyzed using Scanning Electron Microscopy(SEM). The results indicate that the addition of grain refiners is beneficial to the size and distribution of the Bi-rich particles in Al-Bi alloys. Compared with Al-5Ti-B and Al-3B grain refiners, the Bi-rich particles are more uniformly distributed and spherical with finer size with the addition of Al-3Ti grain refiner. The refinement renders the Al-20wt%Bi alloy refined by Al-3Ti the superior wear resistance with respect to those refined by Al-5Ti-B and Al-3B grain refiners, corresponding to the microstructures with fine and uniformly distributed Bi-rich particles in the Al matrix.
WANG TongMinCAO FeiCHEN ZongNingKANG HuiJunZHU JingFU YaNanXIAO TiQiaoLI TingJu
The coarsening process of second-phase droplet in solidifying Al-20 wt% Bi immiscible alloy is in situ studied using synchrotron radiation imaging technology.The collision-induced coarsening and Ostwald coarsening phenomena are directly observed and analyzed.It is found that through observation,collision-induced coarsening phenomenon occurs between droplets with little difference in radius,while Ostwald coarsening phenomenon occurs among droplets with much difference in radius.Moreover,the coarsening rate of Ostwald coarsening is much higher than that of collision-induced coarsening.
Hui-Jun KangPeng ZhouFei CaoJing ZhuYa-Nan FuWan-Xia HuangTi-Qiao XiaoTong-Min Wang
