A novel electromagnetic apparatus for in-situ synchrotron X-ray imaging study of the separation of phases in metal solidification

As a part of a research into new techniques for purifying recycled aluminium alloys, a novel electromagnetic apparatus had been developed for investigating in real-time the separation mechanisms of detrimental inclusions in aluminium alloy melts under alternating magnetic fields. The magnetic coil w...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Billy Koe, Colin Abraham, Chris Bailey, Bob Greening, Martin Small, Thomas Connolley, Jiawei Mi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2020-04-01
Series:HardwareX
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2468067220300122
Description
Summary:As a part of a research into new techniques for purifying recycled aluminium alloys, a novel electromagnetic apparatus had been developed for investigating in real-time the separation mechanisms of detrimental inclusions in aluminium alloy melts under alternating magnetic fields. The magnetic coil was designed based on the Helmholtz coil design. A viewing gap was designed for in-situ imaging studies using synchrotron X-rays. The gap was designed to maintain a uniform magnetic field in the central region where a sample is positioned. The current setup for the magnetic coil pair is able to produce a peak magnetic flux density of ~10 mT at a frequency of 25 kHz. A separate electrical resistance furnace, designed to concentrically fit within the magnetic coils, was used to control the heating (up to ~850°C) and cooling of the samples. After a series of systematic tests and commissioning, the apparatus was used in a number of in-situ and ex-situ experiments.
ISSN:2468-0672