Detection of Floating Grains in DC Aluminum Casting

Abstract

Free-moving "floating" grains have been linked to macrosegregation in direct-chill (DC) aluminum castings. The presence of these grains in the sump of a solidifying ingot has been acknowledged based on measurements of cast microstructures and by recent work using a turbulent jet to suspend solute-poor grains and minimize macrosegregation.1,2 Experiments in this study were designed to sample grains from the mushy region of two ingots, one cast by the standard method and another stirred with a turbulent jet. Measurements of floating grain size, concentration, morphology, and chemical composition are reported. The observations from the standard ingot offer a point of comparison for floating grain theories and casting models. The measurements from the stirred ingot show how the turbulent jet modifies the distribution, concentration and morphology of the floating grains.