In-situ Al/Al3Ni functionally graded materials by electromagnetic separation method

The aim of this paper is to investigate primary Al3Ni phase distributions in in-situ Al/Al3Ni functionally graded materials (FGMs) by electromagnetic separation method. Investigation results show that volume fraction and size of primary Al3Ni particles are of gradient distribution in Al/Al3Ni samples by electromagnetic separation method. Particle volume fraction gradient of Al–17 wt.%Ni sample is greatest in Al–12 wt.%Ni, Al–17 wt.%Ni, and Al–23 wt.%Ni samples. In the part with higher particle volume fraction, major axis of Al3Ni primary particles tends to be perpendicular to direction of the electromagnetic Archimedes force. In addition, compared with the sample solidified without the electromagnetic field, size of primary Al3Ni particles becomes smaller in the sample solidified with the electromagnetic field.