The Effect of Rotation Stirring on Macrosegregation in Bi-Sn Alloy

Metallurgical Department Faculty of Engineering, Sultan Ageng Tirtayasa University, 42435 Cilegon, Indonesia

^* Corresponding author: yeni_m_zulaida@untirta.ac.id

Abstract

Macrosegregation is a defect that difficult to avoid in a metal alloy made by casting method. Macrosegregation can cause decreasing in mechanical properties of casting products. It will reduce their performance in industrial application. Macrosegregation is convinced occur during solidification time in liquid alloy. In the early solidified, The solids move upward/downward in liquid alloy during solidification are considered to contribute on macrosegregation formation. This movement occur due to the density differences between the solid and the surrounding liquid. This research want to observe the effect of stirring on macrosegregation formation for interfering on the movement of initial solidified solid. Stiring with rotation method is applied in this experiment at certain temperature. The temperature and the rotation speed of stirring are varied to observe the effect of rotation stirring on macrosegregation formation. The mold is covered by insulation jacket and kept the bottom part opened in order to obtain the directionally solidification. The result shows that the rotation stirring can change the macrostructure of casting but in case of composition distribution, the macrosegregation still appear. Increasing the rotation stirring will rise solid crystals up and the macrosegregation become more uniform and the treatment is better if conducting at lower temperature.