The spiral growth of lamellar eutectics in a high magnetic field during the directional solidification process

The effect of a high magnetic field on lamellar eutectic growth was investigated in directionally solidified Al-Al2Cu and Pb-Sn eutectic alloys. It was found that the magnetic field has degenerated the lamellar eutectics; as a consequence, the microstructures in the section perpendicular to the solidification direction (i.e. the magnetic field direction) became whorled and the ones in the section parallel to the growth direction deviated from the solidification direction. This may be attributed to the spiral growth of the lamellar eutectic caused by the magnetic field.