Synchrotron quantification of ultrasound cavitation and bubble dynamics in Al-10Cu melts

W W Xu; I Tzanakis; P Srirangam; W U Mirihanage; D G Eskin; A J Bodey; P D Lee

doi:10.1016/j.ultsonch.2016.01.017

Synchrotron quantification of ultrasound cavitation and bubble dynamics in Al-10Cu melts

Ultrason Sonochem. 2016 Jul:31:355-61. doi: 10.1016/j.ultsonch.2016.01.017. Epub 2016 Jan 18.

Authors

W W Xu¹, I Tzanakis², P Srirangam³, W U Mirihanage¹, D G Eskin², A J Bodey⁴, P D Lee¹

Affiliations

¹ Manchester X-ray Imaging Facility, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, UK; Research Complex at Harwell, Didcot OX11 0FA, UK.
² Brunel Centre for Advanced Solidification Technology, Brunel University London, Uxbridge UB8 3PH, UK.
³ WMG, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK.
⁴ Diamond Light Source Ltd, Didcot OX11 0DE, UK.

PMID: 26964960
DOI: 10.1016/j.ultsonch.2016.01.017

Abstract

Knowledge of the kinetics of gas bubble formation and evolution under cavitation conditions in molten alloys is important for the control casting defects such as porosity and dissolved hydrogen. Using in situ synchrotron X-ray radiography, we studied the dynamic behaviour of ultrasonic cavitation gas bubbles in a molten Al-10 wt%Cu alloy. The size distribution, average radius and growth rate of cavitation gas bubbles were quantified under an acoustic intensity of 800 W/cm(2) and a maximum acoustic pressure of 4.5 MPa (45 atm). Bubbles exhibited a log-normal size distribution with an average radius of 15.3 ± 0.5 μm. Under applied sonication conditions the growth rate of bubble radius, R(t), followed a power law with a form of R(t)=αt(β), and α=0.0021 &β=0.89. The observed tendencies were discussed in relation to bubble growth mechanisms of Al alloy melts.

Keywords: Al–Cu alloy; Cavitation bubble; Degassing; Synchrotron X-ray radiography; Ultrasound cavitation.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't