The influence of a direct electric current on the growth of solutal dentrites

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Contributors

Abstract

We study numerically the influence of an electric field on the dendritic growth during solidification of Al-4 wt.% Cu alloy. The numerical results showed that an electric discharging applied during the solidification leads to the appearance of a micro-pinch force due to the complex shape of dendrite and difference in electric conductivities between solid and liquid phases. This pinch force is responsible for the motion of the interdendritic liquid in the form of a toroidal vortex near the dendrite tip. The fluid flow induced modifies the growth kinetics of solutal dendrites, namely, the sidebranching near the dendrite tip is enhanced and the growth of the main stem of the dendrite is suppressed.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)407-416
Number of pages10
JournalMagnetohydrodynamics
Issue number3
Publication statusPublished - 2009
Peer-reviewedYes