Effect of Thermoelectric Magnetic Convection on Shrinkage Porosity at the Final Stage of Solidification of GCr18Mo Steel Under Axial Static Magnetic Field

Adopting effective strategies to eliminate the shrinkage porosity at the final stage of steel solidification is one of the most attractive research subjects for metallurgists. Despite the progress in understanding the thermoelectric magnetic convection (TEMC) in the solidification process, utilization of TEMC for modifying the solidification feeding of steel has been ignored. The effects of TEMC on the shrinkage porosity at the final stage of solidification of GCr18Mo steel were investigated under an axial static magnetic field (ASMF). The morphology and porosity of GCr18Mo steel were investigated quantitatively by X-ray microtomography. We found that the amount of porosity first decreases and then increases with increasing intensity of the ASMF. Meanwhile, the shape of the porosity changed from tortuous to elliptic under the ASMF. On the basis of both the experimental and simulated results, the decrease in porosity is attributed to an adequate development of the TEMC leading to sufficient feeding. This study sheds light on an alternative technique for eliminating the shrinkage porosity at the final stage of steel solidification in industrial applications.