Morphology and distribution of Al3Fe phase in hypereutectic Al-Fe alloy solidified under magnetic field

In this study, the (low) DC and AC magnetic fields and the high magnetic field were applied separately during the solidification process of Al-2.89%Fe alloy. The influences of these magnetic fields on the morphology and distribution of Al3Fe phase in Al-2.89%Fe alloy were investigated. The microstructure and macrostructure of the samples were observed using an optical microscope. The results show that the majority of the primary Al3Fe phase particles in the hypereutectic Al-2.89%Fe alloy is gathered at the bottom of the sample under DC and AC magnetic fields or without magnetic field. The primary Al3Fe phase becomes coarse when the alloy solidifies under DC magnetic field, while it are refined and accumulated towards the center of the sample under the AC magnetic field. When the high magnetic field of 12 T is applied, the primary Al3Fe phase distributes throughout the sample homogeneously because the magnetic force acting on the primary Al3Fe phase balances with the gravity force; and the long axis of the Al3Fe phase aligns perpendicularly to the magnetic field direction. Also, the mechanism of the effect of magnetic fields is discussed.