Recent activities on electromagnetic processing of materials in Japan

Shigeo Asai

Abstract
Application of electromagnetic forces to materials processing, so-called "Electromagnetic Processing of Materials (EPM)", has been recognized as an edge-cutting technology, especially in the fields of steelmaking and advanced materials processing in Japan. The history of EPM and the background to promote EPM in Japan are described. The current status of research and development of EPM is shown by briefly introducing several examples. Regarding the application of a high frequency magnetic field, two topics are picked up. The first is the improvement of the surface quality of cast steel where an alternating magnetic field is imposed on the molten steel from the outside of the mould, and the second is the induction cold crucible where a considerably large amount of molten intermetallic compound is levitated. The examples of the application of DC magnetic fields are the control of molten steel flow in a mould and suppression of the mixing of steel in the strand of continuous casters. A model experiment to eliminate nonmetallic inclusions in molten tin are conducted by imposing DC magnetic and electric fields. Fig. 11, ref. 16.