Characterisations of the Al-Mn intermetallic phases formed under pulse magnetic fields solidification

Abstract

Abstract In this research, the pulse electromagnetic fields were applied during the solidification of an Al-8Mn alloy. The changes of the microstructures due to different magnetic pulses applied were characterised using scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and X-ray tomography. The results show that without the magnetic field, the Al4Mn phases are thin plates in 3D space. At a magnetic field of 0.8T, the Al4Mn phases are transformed into a columnar morphology companied by fine and fragmented Al6Mn particles. At the magnetic flux density of 1.2T, the size of Al4Mn phases become more refined with their orientation gradually aligned towards the direction of the magnetic field, revealing that the pulse electromagnetic fields have a strong effect on the evolution of the Al-Mn phases in Al-8Mn alloy under solidification.