Temperature field calculation on cold crucible continuous melting and directional solidification of Ti6Al4V alloy

In order for making efficient use of the cold crucible, optimizing technological parameters and obtaining perfect metallurgy quality billets, the temperature fields of the cold crucible continuous melting and directional solidification of Ti6Al4V have been calculated. Boundary conditions were determined according to the feeding billet and fresh billet formed by induction heating, the meniscus formed by electromagnetic force. The meniscus shape was obtained from the parabola approaching the experimental one. Continuous casting was achieved by distinguishing from the moving unit at different positions. The calculation results under the conditions of 52 kW and 3 mm/min velocity show that the feeding billet begin to melt at 45 s and the meniscus was formed at 70s, then the melt had superheat degree and the skull was formed, the melt reached the highest temperature at 115 s. The feeding billet was melted completely and the temperature field was steady, the shape and the position of solidification front were invariable in the process of continuous melting and directional solidification. The solidification front was planar in the middle but upwarp on both sides, most of heat was transferred in axial direction. Experimental results are agreement with the calculation results, which proves that the procedure is accurate for calculating the temperature field of cold crucible continuous melting and directional solidification.