Influence of rotating magnetic field on the microstructure and phase content of Ni–Al alloy

Rotating magnetic field is introduced in the production process of Ni–Al precursor alloy of skeletal Ni catalyst. The results showed that the big dendrites of Al3Ni2 disappeared, the size of Al3Ni2 decreased from 64.5 μm to 37.2 and 35.5 μm, phase content of Al3Ni2 decreased while Al3Ni increased after applying field current of 80 A and 140 A, respectively. The change of phase content is probably caused by the increase of surface area between the Al3Ni2 phase and fluid which is favorable to the peritectic reaction.

Research highlights
► We report the effect of rotating magnetic field on the structure of Al–Ni peritectic alloy.
► Big dendrites of Al3Ni2 disappeared, and Al3Ni2 was finely divided in the alloy.
► Phase content of Al3Ni2 decreased while Al3Ni increased.
► Electromagnetic stirring is favorable to the peritectic reaction.