Feathery grain growth during solidification under forced flow conditions

• Published in: Acta materialia Vol. 55; no. 11; pp. 3795 - 3801
• Main Authors: Turchin, A.N., Zuijderwijk, M., Pool, J., Eskin, D.G., Katgerman, L.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01-06-2007; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Alloy development; Aluminium alloys; Aluminum base alloys; Applied sciences; Copper base alloys; Electron back scatter diffraction; Exact sciences and technology; Fluid dynamics; Grains; Holes; Metals. Metallurgy; Morphology; Solidification; Twinning; Aluminium alloys; Twinning; Solidification; Grain growth; Microstructure
• ISSN: 1359-6454; 1873-2453
• DOI: 10.1016/j.actamat.2007.02.030

The grain morphology developed during solidification of an Al–4.5% Cu alloy is represented generally by columnar or equiaxed dendrites. Twinned feathery grains are found in the structure formed under certain heat and flow conditions during solidification. In this work, these conditions were achieved during solidification in a cavity under forced flow. Feathery grain formation is studied by means of fluid dynamics simulations with solidification included and by experiments. In order to determine the crystallographic orientation of feathery grains, electron backscattered diffraction measurements were performed. The growth features of feathery grains were analyzed by observations made normal and parallel to the growth direction. Some correlations between twinned feathery morphology, flow and solidification parameters were obtained.