Directional solidification of refined Al–3.5wt% Ni under natural convection and under a forced flow driven by a travelling magnetic field
Résumé
A new Bridgman-type furnace has been designed and built.This furnace has two specific items: a device conceived to minimise any residual radial thermal gradient near the solid–liquid interface (induced by the difference in thermal conductivities between liquid and solid), and a travelling magnetic field to drive a forced flow in the liquid above the solidifying interface. We have already performed comparative experiments of directional solidification on refined and non-refined Al-based alloys, under natural convection and under forced flow, controlled by the travelling magnetic field. We will present some characteristics of this new furnace, and the preliminary results obtained by solidifying refined Al–3.5 wt% Ni, with and without the travelling magnetic field.