Solidification Flashcards
What are the assumptions made for solidification in a mould?
1 The mould is of infinite thickness ie neglect any heat transfer at the outer-surface of the mould
2 There is no superheat in the liquid ie the liquid is at the solidification temperature
3 There is no thermal resistance at the mould/metal interface ie perfect thermal contact
4 The temperature of the solid remains constant and equal to the melting point of the material
5 We are considering a single melting point material ie a pure metal or eutectic alloys
6 We are considering unidirectional solidification ie an infinitely long slab
For the linear profile method what is assumed?
The temperature profile is linear
Rate of heat absorption by wall = heat transfer through wall
Rate of heat accumulated by wall = area x density x conductance per increment of time
For the parabolic integral profile method what is used?
A parabolic temperature gradient
Dimensionless terms T* X*
Heat stored in the mould wall
For the analytical solution what is assumed?
The penetration depth is less than the mould wall thickness
What is the method for determining the solution when there is a thermal gradient in both mould wall and solid?
1 find the temperature gradient at the wall
2 find the temperature gradient in the solid
3 equate using the equation with kw and ks
4 sub into the equation for heat flow in solidified metal
When a pure metal grows into a superheated liquid what is the nature of the interface?
The SL interface growth rate increases when the solid temperature gradient increases or the liquid temperature gradient decreases
When a small perturbation occurs the solid isotherms are further apart while in the liquid they are closer so the heat flux into the solid decreases and the perturbation heats up faster and melts back
Planar front is stable, perturbation is unstable
When a pure metal grows into a supercooled liquid what is the nature of the interface?
The SL interface growth rate increases when the solid and liquid temperature gradient increases
When a small perturbation occurs the latent heat flows away from the SL interface more rapidly thus the perturbation will grow outwards
Planar front is unstable, perturbation is stable
How do pure metal crystals grow at low R?
As cells with low curvature
How do pure metal crystals grow at high R?
The SL interface breaks down into dendrites with larger curvature and a paraboloid tip shape
What is the velocity of the dendrite related to?
Undercooling
What are the components of undercooling?
The diffusion of latent heat from the interface, the radius of curvature of the tip, the atomic attachment kinetics
What kind of growth is dendritic and which component is largest in the undercooling?
Nonfaceted, diffusion limited undercooling
What is the chill zone?
Narrow band of equipped crystals randomly orientated adjacent to the mould wall
What is the columnar zone?
Outer region of larger crystals elongated parallel to the direction of heat flow
What are the 3 main factors limiting growth of pure metals
Diffusion of heat from the interface
Curvature of the interface
attachment kinetics of atoms at the interface
What are additional factors affecting growth of alloys?
Solute is partitioned between the solid and liquid
This rejected solute must be diffused away in the liquid (in addition to heat)
The equilibrium interface temperature depends on the liquid composition at the interface CL*
What is the definition of nucleation?
Initiation of the certain centres (the creation of a new SL interface)
What is the definition of growth?
The propagation of SL interfaces form these centres
What is the overall transformation rate?
The nucleation rate x growth rate
The microstructure formed is a competition between…
Interface curvature
Diffusion of heat and solute from the interface
When is a planar interface stable?
When the thermal gradient in the liquid is steeper than the gradient in the liquidus temperature at the SL interface
When do planar, cells or dendrites grow?
Planar - high G low R, high G/r low c
Cells - intermediate G R, intermediate G/R c
Dendrites - low G high R, low G/R high c
What is the effect of decreasing the thermal gradient in the liquid on the SL interface?
Increase maximum constitutional supercooling
Increase distance constitutionally supercooled
What is the effect of increasing the growth rate on the SL interface?
Less time for solute to diffuse, concentration gradient steeper
What is the effect of increasing the bulk alloy composition on the SL interface?
More solution rejection at the interface, increase the maximum constitutional supercooling, increase the distance that is constitutionally supercooled
What is solute undercooling?
The amount by which the temperature must be reduced in order to have that amount of solute at the SL interface
What is curvature undercooling?
How curvature alters the equilibrium between solid and liquid
What is kinetic undercooling?
The undercooling due to attachment kinetics (faceted or non faceted)
How does cell growth depend on undercooling?
Cell growth for small supercooling, the shape allows solute to be rejected laterally and grooves develop between the cells assisting the transport of solute and the solute undercooling decreases significantly. The shape requires some curvature undercooling. As growth rate increases, the cells develop increasing curvature in order to enhance solute transport and decrease total growth undercooling with increasing velocity
How does dendritic growth depend on undercooling?
Dendritic growth for high supercooling, the shape maximises diffusion of solute away from the dendrite tip and creates a large amount of curvature, the curvature undercooling is significant. Shape is a balance to minimise the interface energy and maximise solute diffusion from the interface. As dendrite grows faster their spacing becomes smaller and their average curvature increases, and there is less time for solute diffusion in the liquid. Total growth undercooling increases with increasing dendrite growth rate.
What is the central zone?
Region ahead of columnar zone where nucleation occurs due to constitutional supercooling equal or exceeds required, growth will be dendritic