LAUSR

The effects of high magnetic fields on the solidification structures of ternary Al–Fe–Zr alloy were investigated. The results showed that the primary Al 3 Fe crystals mainly show bar-like form, whereas the unmelted Al 3 Zr crystals reveal tabular and the newly crystallized primary Al 3 Zr crystals have fine/coarse needle-like forms. When a 12 T magnetic field is applied, the primary Al 3 Fe crystals are distributed homogenously and the fine needle-like primary Al 3 Zr levitated. Moreover, the primary Al 3 Fe crystals align horizontally in the upper but vertically in the lower part of the specimen. The needle-like primary Al 3 Zr crystals align vertically, whereas the tabular ones have their two opposite corners on the large surfaces toward the positive and negative magnetic field direction. Crystallographic analysis indicates that 〈100〉 and 〈110〉 are the preferred axes of the primary Al 3 Fe and the Al 3 Zr crystals with respect to the magnetic field, respectively. The redistribution and realignments of the crystals are discussed.