For the purpose of studying compact strip production (CSP) funnel-shaped mold and flexible thin-slab rolling (FTSR) funnel-shaped mold, a three-dimensional (3D) multi-field coupling mathematical model was established to describe the electromagnetic braking (EMBr) continuous casting process. To investigate the metallurgical effect of EMBr in the CSP and FTSR funnel-shaped thin-slab molds, a Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) turbulence model, together with an enthalpy–porosity approach, was established to numerically simulate the effect of ruler EMBr on the behaviors of melt flow, heat transfer, solidification, and inclusion movement in high-speed casting. The simulation results indicate that the application of ruler EMBr in the CSP and FTSR molds shows great potential to improve the surface temperature of molten steel and reduce the penetration depth of downward backflow. This contributes to the melting of the slag rim near the meniscus region and facilitates the floating removal of the inclusions in the molten pool. In addition, in comparison with the case of no EMBr, the parametric study shows that the braking effect of ruler EMBr with an electromagnetic parameter of 0.5 T can enhance the upward backflow in the two high-speed thin-slab molds. The enhanced upward backflow can successfully entrain the inclusions to the top of the mold and improve the activity of surface fluctuations to avoid the formation of the slag rim. For instance, for the ruler EMBr applied to the FTSR mold, the maximum amplitude of surface fluctuation and the floatation removal quantity of inclusions with a diameter of 100 μm are increased by 4.6 percent and 51 percent, respectively.

Electromagnetic braking (EMBr) technology, as one of the most effective technologies in the continuous casting process, provides an effective tool for improving the internal and external defects of steel products. Specifically, the EMBr technology takes the benefit of the generation of Lorentz force to decrease flow instability, mold powder entrapment, and surface defects, if applied properly. For this purpose, to gain a clear understanding of the effect of EMBr technology on the continuous casting process, a commonly used EMBr technology, namely ruler EMBr technology, is applied in the current work to investigate the dynamic behaviors of molten steel flow and steel–slag interface fluctuation inside a slab mold. Furthermore, to obtain a desirable braking effect of the ruler EMBr technology, operational parameters including the magnetic flux density, submerged entry nozzle (SEN) depth, and magnetic pole location are numerically investigated. The results demonstrate that the braking effect exerted by the ruler EMBr device is favorable for suppressing the impact of upward stream on the steel–slag interface with the magnetic flux density exceeding 0.3 T. For the influence of the SEN depth and magnetic pole location on the effect of ruler EMBr mold, the results show that a steady jet flow pattern can be obtained through the adjustment of a location between the ruler EMBr device and the SEN depth. For instance, when the ruler EMBr device installation position of 225 mm corresponds to the SEN depth of 150 mm, the upward deflection of jet stream is suppressed and a stable interface fluctuation profile is formed. With this adjustment, the possibility of mold flux entrapment is decreased.

Ceramic hybrid particulate reinforced magnesium matrix composites have attracted much attention in recent years, owing to their light weight, high specific strength and stiffness, excellent wear and damping properties, and have very wide popularization and application prospects in the automotive and aerospace fields. A simple and novel technique, in situ reactive infiltration technique, was utilized to prepare (B₄C+Ti) hybrid reinforced Mg and AZ91D composites. The microstructure, produced phases, wear, compression and bending performance were characterized and analyzed in depth. The results showed that extending the holding time for preparing the composites and magnesium alloy as the matrix were both beneficial for the generation of interpenetrating networks within the composites, which means more sufficient and complete in situ reactions between B₄C and Ti particles. More sufficient and complete reactions facilitate stronger interfacial bonding, leading to an improvement of the wear, compression and bending performance of the composites. The wear mechanisms for both kinds of composites were abrasive and delamination wear. (B₄C+Ti)/AZ91D composites exhibit better compression performance and this can be attributed to the microstructure of the composites and work-hardening and softening during compression.