Direct-chilling casting of Mg alloy under electromagnetic and ultrasonic combined field

The effects of low frequency electromagnetic (LFEC) field and ultrasonic (US) field on the microstructures, macrosegregation of alloying elements and the mechanical properties of DC cast AZ80 alloy were studied. The results show that both LFEC and US fields can refine the grains of the billets, which results in the increase in mechanical properties and uniformity of alloying element distribution. The effective refinement takes place on the edge of ingots when LFEC field is applied, while in the center of billets when field US is adopted. Combined the characteristics of LFEC and US fields, a new process for direct-chilling (DC) casting of Mg-electromagnetic-ultrasonic (ECUS) casting is developed, by which the grains are refined significantly and are more uniform in the whole ingots, and the mechanical properties of the ingots are improved.