Effect of abruptly changing withdrawal rate on solidification microstructure in directionally solidified Al-4.5wt%Cu alloy

Al-4.5wt.%Cu alloy has been directionally solidified at constant and abruptly changing withdrawal rates, respectively. The effects of the withdrawal rate on solidification microstructure, primary dendrite arm spacing(PDAS) and liquid solute distribution in front of the solid-liquid interface were investigated. The experimental results for the PDAS at a constant withdrawal rate agree well with the values calculated by the Hunt, Trivedi and Hunt-Lu models. At an abrupt change in the withdrawal rate, the maximum to minimum ratio of the PDAS at a given solidification parameter, i.e. λ1max/λ1min, is more than 2, and the PDAS values are remarkably history-dependent. Further, the liquid-solute distribution curve based on theoretical calculation shows that the larger the initial withdrawal rate is, the smaller the minimum of liquid solute concentration in front of the solid-liquid interface is after the abrupt change in withdrawal rate.

Effect of solidification parameters on the microstructures of a single crystal Ni-based superalloy AM3

A single crystal Ni-based superalloy AM3 was processed at withdraw rates of 3.5, 10, 50, 100, 200, and 500 μm·s-1, respectively.The as-cast microstructures and solidification segregation ratio were characterized with various withdraw rates.The shape and size of carbide microstructures were determined.As expected, the primary and secondary dendrite arm spacings (PDAS and SDAS) decrease with the increase of withdraw rate.The highest volume fraction of eutectic γ/γ' is observed at the 100 μm·s-1 withdraw rate.The volume fraction of eutectic γ/γ' does not appear to be a strong function of the withdraw rate.With increasing withdraw rate, interface morphologies change in the sequence of planar, cellular, and dendrite.There is a general refinement of the microstructure as the withdraw rate increases.EPMA analysis showed that withdraw rate does not have obvious influence on the segregation of elements.

Evolution mechanism of crystallographic orientation in grain continuator bars of a Ni-based single-crystal superalloy prepared by Bridgman technology during directional solidification

Single-crystal rods with different diameters and deviation angles with respect to the solidification direction were produced by Bridgman rapid solidification method at withdrawal rates of 3 and 6 mm·min^(-1) and used as grain continuators.The crystallographic orientation of the rods,which cross-sections were perpendicular to the solidification direction at different solidification heights,was measured by electron backscattered diffraction,while the corresponding microstructures were observed by optical microscopy.The mushy zone morphology and the distribution of the temperature gradient were simulated by the finite element analysis software ProCAST.The experimental results indicate that the crystallographic orientation of the single-crystal rods corresponds to the statistical average value of all the dendrite orientations in cross-section.The crystallographic orientation of the primary and secondary dendrites of each single-crystal rod at different cross-sections fluctuates irregularly within a small range(less than 4°).The crystallographic orientation of the dendrite in each single-crystal rod is not exactly consistent with each other and is affected by their branching mode of dendrites in the solidification space.In addition,the simulation results show that the mushy zone shapes and the temperature gradient of single-crystal rods change with the increase of solidification height during the solidification process.Finally,the evolution mechanism of the crystallographic orientations and the corresponding influence factors were analyzed and discussed.

Fabrication of lotus-type porous micro-channel copper by single-mold Gasar technique

A single-mold Gasar technique was developed to produce lotus-type porous micro-channel copper with uniform porous structure. In this paper the effect of withdrawal rate on the solid/liquid interface morphology and the corresponding porous structure was systematically investigated, especially the pore morphology, pore growth direction, porosity, and pore diameter of porous copper ingots. In addition, a temperature fi eld simulation was carried out based on Pro Cast software to investigate the shape and movement velocity of the solidifying solid/liquid interface. The experimental results show that the solidifi cation interface changes from convex to planar, then to concave shape with an increase in withdrawal rate. The average porosities of copper ingots are constant and independent of the withdrawal rate. The average pore diameter decreases with an increase in withdrawal rate.

Effect of Withdrawal Rates on Microstructure and Creep Strength of a Single Crystal Superalloy Processed by LMC

A nickel base single crystal （SC） superalloy was directionally solidified using liquid metal cooling （LMC） process at various withdrawal rates. The microstructure was refined as increasing the withdrawal rate from 3 to 12 mm/min. However, higher withdrawal rate of 15 mm/min induced the formation of stray grains. Size and volume fraction of the eutectics were found to decrease with the increasing in withdrawal rate. After solution heat treatment at 1250℃, un-dissolved eutectic was observed in specimens. High temperature creep rupture life was observed to be very sensitive to the fraction of these remaining eutectics. Creep rupture tests at 1000℃/235 MPa showed that refined microstructure and low fraction of the remaining eutectic lead to significant improvement of the rupture life.

Effect of Solidification Parameters on the Microstructure and Creep Property of a Single Crystal Ni-base Superalloy

A single crystal Ni-base superalloy was processed with withdrawal rates between 2 and 7 mm/min.The ascast microstructures,heat treatment response and creep property have been characterized as a function of the withdrawal rate.As expected,the primary and secondary dendrite arm spacing decreased with increasing withdrawal rate; microsegregation degree and porosity distribution were also varied with different withdrawal rates.The withdrawal rate of 2 mm/min resulted in a noticeable residual microsegregation even after full heat treatment.The samples solidified at 7 mm/min exhibited a high density of cast porosities,and this led to a dramatical decline of the creep strain.4 or 6 mm/min appeared to be the optimum withdrawal rate in the present study,which resulted in a uniform microstructure and an optimum density of cast porosity.