Effect of Current Frequency on Droplet Evolution During Magnetic-Field-Controlled Electroslag Remelting Process Via Visualization Method.

A transparent physical model was set up to investigate the influence of the remelting current frequencies on droplet evolution during the magnetic-field-controlled electroslag remelting process. Physical simulation experiments were done under the remelting current of 8 A with frequencies ranging from 10 to 500 Hz, and a transverse static magnetic field (TSMF) of 0.7 T was superimposed simultaneously. The high-speed camera was used to record the evolution behavior of the droplet. Representative processes of formation and detachment of the droplets were observed under different conditions. The results showed that there was little influence of the current frequencies on the evolution behavior of the droplet without the external magnetic field. Nevertheless, if a TSMF was introduced, the liquid droplet's neck would be smashed into a lot of smaller droplets when the remelting current frequencies were lower than 100 Hz, while the smashing effect disappeared when the frequencies were higher than 100 Hz. The mechanism of the smashing effect was discussed. Statistical work was done to obtain the quantitative data to give a clear result revealing the influence of the remelting current frequencies on droplet evolution. The decrease in the diameter of the liquid droplets would remarkably increase the interface area and shorten the migrating distance of the inclusions in the droplets, which meant that a higher purifying efficiency could be expected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]