Constitutional undercooling and growth of globuletic particle

Abstract

Isothermal holding of an alloy at semi-solid temperature and quenching/cooling, results in formation of instabilities on the globuletic α-particles. The aspect of instability formation is necessary input for accurate simulation and modeling of microstructure evolution for semi-solid metal forming (SSM) process. In the present work instability formation is studied for Al-7Si-0.3Mg alloy. Small cylindrical samples (10 mm, height 10 mm) were subjected to isothermal holding at semisolid temperature followed by quenching/cooling to room temperature. Instabilities were found to form at cooling rates 30 and 100 K/s. Instability formation is explained by interface stabilization theory based on the constitutional undercooling of liquid ahead of the solid/liquid interface.