Solidification behaviors of Al₃Ni precipitated phase in Al-Ni alloy under a high magnetic field

The solidification behaviors of nonferromagnetic Al₃Ni precipitated phase in Al-8%Ni alloy with a high magnetic field applied have been studied experimentally. It is found that the magnetic field induces the crystals of Al₃Ni phase to orient with their c-axes parallel to the field and the long axes of the crystals are perpendicular to their c-axes. There are several Al₃Ni congregation planes parallel with each other, which are perpendicular to the field, that is, regular Al₃Ni laminated alignment structure is formed in the alloy. In the planes, there are several big Al₃Ni congregations, in the inner part of which there are aligned Al₃Ni crystals.