Application of electromagnetic fields in material processing, metallurgy, casting and crystal growth

Basic and applied research on Liquid Metal Technologies and Magnetohydrodynamics represents a surprising bandwidth ranging from high-temperature energy conversion, new kinds of liquid metal batteries, the production of solar-grade silicon, carbon dioxide free production of hydrogen, liquid metal targets in modern neutron sources and transmutation systems, casting of steel and light metals, welding and soldering processes, to basic laboratory experiments with relevance to liquid metal cooled systems, materials processing as well as to geo- and astrophysics.
Most of the metallurgical and crystal growth processes comprise phases with liquid metals (or liquid semiconductors with very similar properties). The application of diverse electromagnetic fields has proven to be a very effective tool of influencing and controlling such liquid metal flows and the corresponding heat and mass transport. For instance, most of the problems in casting of metal alloys affecting the product quality are associated with an improperly conditioned fluid flow during the process. Small improvements in the flow pattern can achieve therefore large effects in terms of quality assurance and energy savings.
This presentation gives an overview of the research activities at the HZDR with respect to the use of magnetic fields in metallurgy, casting and crystal growth. The experimental work is based on model experiments for the detailed investigation of flow processes under the influence of magnetic fields. This presentation presents a number of examples and discusses corresponding results in the light of the respective technologies considered.