Abstract: Because of the different conductivities between the primary phase (law electric conductivity) and the metal melt, electromagnetic force scarcely acts on the primary phase.Thus, an electromagnetic repulsive force applied by the metal melt exerts on the primary phase when the movement of the melt in the direction of electromagnetic force is limited. As a result, the repulsive force exerts on the primary phase to push them to move in the direction opposite to that of the electromagnetic force when the metal melt with primary phase solidifies under an electromagnetic force field. Based on this,a new method for production of in situ surface composite and gradient material by electromagnetic force is proposed. An in situ primary Si reinforced surface composite of Al-15wt%Si alloy and gradient material of Al-19wt%Si alloy were produced by this method. The microhardness of the primary Si is HV1320. The reinforced phase size is in the range from 40μm to 100μm. The wear resistance of Al-Si alloy gradient material can be more greatly increased than that of their matrix material.

Key words: Al-Si alloy, electromagnetic force, in situ surface composite, gradient material