Effect of Pulse Electric Field on the Columnar Crystals Growth of Al-5.6 Wt.%Cu during Unidirectional Solidification

Abstract

The influence of pulse electric field on the columnar crystals growth has been studied by employing pulse electric field vertically to the solid/liquid interface during unidirectional solidification. The results showed that the pulse electric field was favorable to columnar crystals growth with the increase of pulse electric field intensity when the liquid phase was the positive electrode of pulse electric field. The formation of equiaxed crystal was accelerated when the degree of composition supercooling in front edge of solid/liquid interface reached the degree of nucleation supercooling by pulse electric field. When the liquid phase was the negative electrode of pulse electric field, the growth of columnar crystals was hindered, and the formation of equiaxed crystal was accelerated by pulse electric field.