EBSD Study of the Influence of a High Magnetic Field on the Microstructure and Orientation of the Al-Si Eutectic During Directional Solidification

The effect of a high magnetic field on the morphology of the Al-Si eutectic was investigated using EBSD technology. The results revealed that the application of the magnetic field modified the morphology of the Al-Si eutectic significantly. Indeed, the magnetic field destroyed the coupled growth of the Al-Si eutectic and caused the formation of the divorced α-Al and Si dendrites at low growth speeds (≤1 μm/s). The magnetic field was also found to refine the eutectic grains and reduce the eutectic spacing at the initial growth stage. Moreover, the magnetic field caused the occurrence of the columnar-to-equiaxed transition of the α-Al phase in the Al-Si eutectic. The abovementioned effects were enhanced as the magnetic field increased. This result should be attributed to the magnetic field restraining the interdiffusion of Si and Al atoms in liquid ahead of the liquid/solid interface and the thermoelectric magnetic force acting on the eutectic lamellae under the magnetic field.