Electromagnetic Centrifugal Casting Of SiC_p Reinforced Al And Al-Cu Matrix Composites

A SiCp reinforced Al-Cu alloy and Al matrix composites are fabricated by a new method - electromagnetic centrifugal casting, the effects of rotational rate for centrifugation, magnetic density, particle size and matrix on the distribution of particles and microstructure of matrix are studied. The particle-enriched zone moves outwards as the rotational rate increases. By employing steady DC magnetic field to the conventional centrifugal casting method, the distribution of particles is changed. The most uniform distribution is obtained when the magnetic density is 0.15T. The microstructure is coarsened under the effect of strong electromagnetic field. Otherwise, for smaller particles reinforced composites, the particles in the enriched zone are denser than that of bigger particles reinforced composites, with the microstructure of matrix coarsened. Moreover, the outer particle-free zone almost disappears when pure aluminum matrix is applied. The particle-enriched zone is delaminated with the magnetic field.