Effect of low-intensity ultrasound on grain refinement and heterogeneous nucleation mechanism of 2219 Al alloy
The ultrasonic cavitation and acoustic streaming have long been regarded as the dominant mechanisms for refining the solidification microstructure of Aluminum (Al) alloys. This work investigated the effects of low-intensity ultrasound on the solidification microstructure of 2219 Al alloy by setting...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2025-06-01
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| Series: | Ultrasonics Sonochemistry |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1350417725001208 |
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| author | Anqing Li Ripeng Jiang Ruiqing Li Aolei Fu Li Zhang Lihua Zhang |
| author_facet | Anqing Li Ripeng Jiang Ruiqing Li Aolei Fu Li Zhang Lihua Zhang |
| author_sort | Anqing Li |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The ultrasonic cavitation and acoustic streaming have long been regarded as the dominant mechanisms for refining the solidification microstructure of Aluminum (Al) alloys. This work investigated the effects of low-intensity ultrasound on the solidification microstructure of 2219 Al alloy by setting an ultrasonic application angle of 15° and with the different depths (30 mm, 70 mm, and 110 mm). The experimental results show that low-intensity ultrasound can also achieve a significant refining effect on the microstructure. Comparative analysis of solidified microstructures across multiple samples revealed, for the first time, that low-intensity ultrasound refines grain morphology primarily through enhanced heterogeneous nucleation. By establishing a theoretical model between acoustic intensity (Ie) and heterogeneous nucleation energy (ΔG∗), the required low-intensity acoustic pressure amplitude (Pa′) for heterogeneous nucleation was determined. The calculation results are in good agreement with the experimental conclusions, thereby proposing a new mechanism for ultrasound to improve solidification microstructures. This work demonstrates that the ultrasonic cavitation and acoustic streaming are not necessary conditions for refining grain structures. Low-intensity ultrasound can also promote the refinement of Al alloy grain structures when satisfying the critical nucleation acoustic pressure conditions. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-0be9d3ba28d646319b29fc0f63a1978d |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 1350-4177 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Ultrasonics Sonochemistry |
| spelling | doaj-art-0be9d3ba28d646319b29fc0f63a1978d2025-08-20T02:18:46ZengElsevierUltrasonics Sonochemistry1350-41772025-06-0111710734110.1016/j.ultsonch.2025.107341Effect of low-intensity ultrasound on grain refinement and heterogeneous nucleation mechanism of 2219 Al alloyAnqing Li0Ripeng Jiang1Ruiqing Li2Aolei Fu3Li Zhang4Lihua Zhang5Light Alloy Research Institutes, Central South University, Changsha, China; State Key Laboratory of Precision Manufacturing for Extreme Service Performance, Central South University, Changsha, ChinaLight Alloy Research Institutes, Central South University, Changsha, China; State Key Laboratory of Precision Manufacturing for Extreme Service Performance, Central South University, Changsha, China; Corresponding author.Light Alloy Research Institutes, Central South University, Changsha, China; State Key Laboratory of Precision Manufacturing for Extreme Service Performance, Central South University, Changsha, ChinaLight Alloy Research Institutes, Central South University, Changsha, China; State Key Laboratory of Precision Manufacturing for Extreme Service Performance, Central South University, Changsha, ChinaSchool of Materials Science and Engineering, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, ChinaLight Alloy Research Institutes, Central South University, Changsha, China; State Key Laboratory of Precision Manufacturing for Extreme Service Performance, Central South University, Changsha, ChinaThe ultrasonic cavitation and acoustic streaming have long been regarded as the dominant mechanisms for refining the solidification microstructure of Aluminum (Al) alloys. This work investigated the effects of low-intensity ultrasound on the solidification microstructure of 2219 Al alloy by setting an ultrasonic application angle of 15° and with the different depths (30 mm, 70 mm, and 110 mm). The experimental results show that low-intensity ultrasound can also achieve a significant refining effect on the microstructure. Comparative analysis of solidified microstructures across multiple samples revealed, for the first time, that low-intensity ultrasound refines grain morphology primarily through enhanced heterogeneous nucleation. By establishing a theoretical model between acoustic intensity (Ie) and heterogeneous nucleation energy (ΔG∗), the required low-intensity acoustic pressure amplitude (Pa′) for heterogeneous nucleation was determined. The calculation results are in good agreement with the experimental conclusions, thereby proposing a new mechanism for ultrasound to improve solidification microstructures. This work demonstrates that the ultrasonic cavitation and acoustic streaming are not necessary conditions for refining grain structures. Low-intensity ultrasound can also promote the refinement of Al alloy grain structures when satisfying the critical nucleation acoustic pressure conditions.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1350417725001208Low-intensity ultrasoundHeterogeneous nucleation2219 Al alloyUltrasonic cavitationAcoustic streaming |
| spellingShingle | Anqing Li Ripeng Jiang Ruiqing Li Aolei Fu Li Zhang Lihua Zhang Effect of low-intensity ultrasound on grain refinement and heterogeneous nucleation mechanism of 2219 Al alloy Ultrasonics Sonochemistry Low-intensity ultrasound Heterogeneous nucleation 2219 Al alloy Ultrasonic cavitation Acoustic streaming |
| title | Effect of low-intensity ultrasound on grain refinement and heterogeneous nucleation mechanism of 2219 Al alloy |
| title_full | Effect of low-intensity ultrasound on grain refinement and heterogeneous nucleation mechanism of 2219 Al alloy |
| title_fullStr | Effect of low-intensity ultrasound on grain refinement and heterogeneous nucleation mechanism of 2219 Al alloy |
| title_full_unstemmed | Effect of low-intensity ultrasound on grain refinement and heterogeneous nucleation mechanism of 2219 Al alloy |
| title_short | Effect of low-intensity ultrasound on grain refinement and heterogeneous nucleation mechanism of 2219 Al alloy |
| title_sort | effect of low intensity ultrasound on grain refinement and heterogeneous nucleation mechanism of 2219 al alloy |
| topic | Low-intensity ultrasound Heterogeneous nucleation 2219 Al alloy Ultrasonic cavitation Acoustic streaming |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1350417725001208 |
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