Effect of pulse magnetic field on microstructure of austenitic stainless steel during directional solidification

Using directional solidification via zone melting, we investigated the effect of axial pulse magnetic field on microstructure and interface morphology of austenitic stainless steel over a wide range of growth rate (from planar to dendritic growth mode). Experimental results show that during directional solidification, applications of pulse magnetic field destabilize the interface morphology, i.e. it promotes planar–cellular–dendritic–cellular transition of growth mode under the same conditions. Analysis reveals that freezing rate oscillations caused by the pulse magnetic field may be responsible for this phenomenon.