Nucleation behavior of bulk Ni–Cu alloy and pure Sb in High magnetic fields

Abstract: The effect of high magnetic fields on the nucleation behavior of Ni-90at%Cu alloys and pure Sb were investigated. It was found that the undercooling of both Ni-90at%Cu alloys and pure Sb before nucleation was increased by the application of a high magnetic field of 11.5T. An obvious grain refinement was observed in the Ni-90at%Cu alloys solidified in the high magnetic field. Such grain refinement could be linked to the increase of the undercooling. The increase in the undercooling in the high magnetic field was attributed to the suppressing effect of the Lorentz force on the convection in the melt. Such suppressing effect could delay the formation of oxides which were responsible for the heterogeneous nucleation of the materials. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]