Induced migration of non-magnetic particles and fabrication of metallic-based graded materials by applying a strong magnetic field.

Strong magnetic fields e.g., 10 T are now frequently used during materials preparation. In the present paper, a method of metal-ceramics graded materials preparation is proposed by applying a strong magnetic field with a high gradient. Experimental and theoretical analyses are performed to investigate the effect of the strong magnetic field on the migration and interaction behavior of diamagnetic oxide particles in a liquid metal. The migration of micrometer or sub-micrometer sized particles is clearly enhanced by the magnetic field gradient. After being treated by the strong magnetic field, a self-assembly structure of the particles is achieved. Various factors such as the magnetic dipole-dipole interaction and chain-chain interaction, are governing the particles assembly. The present results provide direct evidence that nonmetallic particles of micrometer size or less can be manipulated in a conductive melt by applying a strong magnetic field and as a consequence graded materials can be prepared. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]