The application of positron emission particle tracking (PEPT) to study the movement of inclusions in shape castings

Positron Emission Particle Tracking, (PEPT), was used to track radioactive particles entrained into liquid metal during casting. The purpose of these experiments was to test the technique for its application to the study of inclusion movement in castings, and so provide a method for validation of computer simulations of inclusion behaviour. Two types of experiments were carried out. In the first, Al alloy plate castings were made in resin-bonded sand moulds, into which were entrained radioactive alumina particles of size 355 to 710 μm. In the second type of experiment smaller alumina and resin particles, around 60 to 100 μm in size, were entrained into a low melting point In-based alloy, (Field's Metal), cast at 80°C into an acrylic die. In each experiment the particle locations were recorded in real time, using a positron detection camera. The particle paths were obtained for each casting and the reproducibility of the technique examined.