Study on electromagnetic suspension casting of wrought magnesium alloy

A new grain refinement method, electromagnetic suspension casting, has been proposed, which is based on the virtues of the electromagnetic stirring and the suspension casting. The experiments on AZ61 wrought magnesium alloy by electromagnetic suspension casting were investigated. The results show that the grains were refined, and thin β-Mg17Al12 phase was observed. Moreover, the distribution uniformity of β-Mg17Al12 phase was improved. The mechanism of grain refinement by electromagnetic suspension casting and the solidification of electromagnetic suspension casting of AZ61 magnesium alloy were studied. The experiment results indicate that electromagnetic suspension casting process raises the solidification rate of billet especially in the central region, and the solidification of electromagnetic suspension casting was close to mushy freezing.