Unidirectional solidification of Zn-rich Zn-Cu peritectic alloys -- 2. Microstructural length scales

Journal Article · Thu May 11 04:00:00 EDT 2000 · Acta Materialia

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/S1359-6454(00)00003-3· OSTI ID:20075930

Ma, D; Li, Y; Ng, S C; Jones, H

Experimental results are presented of solidification microstructure length scale including {eta}-phase cell spacing, primary {epsilon} secondary dendrite arm spacing, size of nonaligned dendrite of primary {epsilon}, and volume fraction of primary {epsilon}, as functions of alloy concentration (containing up to 7.37 wt% Cu) and growth velocity (ranging from 0.02 to 4.82 mm/s) in the unidirectional solidification of Zn-rich Zn-Cu peritectic alloys. Intercellular spacing ({lambda}) of two-phase cellular structure decreases with increasing growth velocity (V) such that {lambda}V{sup 1/2} is constant at a fixed alloy concentration in parametric agreement with the KGT and Hunt-Lu models. The value of {lambda}V{sup 1/2} varies from 216 {+-} 10 to 316 {+-} 55 {micro}m{sup 3/2}/s{sup 1/2} with decrease in alloy concentration from 4.94 to 2.17 wt% Cu. These values are much greater than for normal eutectic systems but comparable with monotectic alloys. Dendritic secondary arm spacing ({lambda}{sub 2}) of primary {epsilon} decreases with increasing V such that {lambda}{sub 2}V{sup 1/3} is constant ranging 14.9 {+-} 0.9 to 75.6 {+-} 8.1 {micro}m{sup 4/3}/s{sup 1/3} with increase in alloy concentration (C{sub 0}) from 2.17 to 7.37 wt% Cu, which is in parametric agreement with predictions of arm-coarsening theory. The volume fraction (f{sub e}) of primary {epsilon} increases with increasing V for Zn-rich Zn-3.37, 4.94 and 7.37 wt% Cu hyperperitectic alloys. Predictions of the Scheil and Sarreal-Abbaschian models show good agreement with the observed f{sub {epsilon}} for Zn-4.94 wt% Cu at moderate V from 0.19 to 2.64 mm/s, but fail at low V of less than 0.16 mm/s and at high V of greater than 3.54 mm/s. The measured average size, {Lambda}V{sup 1/2} is constant for a given alloy, increasing from (0.98 {+-} 0.04) x 10{sup 3} to (7.2 {+-} 0.7) x 10{sup 3} {micro}m{sup 3/2}/s{sup 1/2} with increase in alloy concentration from 2.17 to 4.94 wt% Cu.

• Research Organization: National Univ. of Singapore (SG)
• OSTI ID: 20075930
• Journal Information: Acta Materialia, Journal Name: Acta Materialia Journal Issue: 8 Vol. 48; ISSN 1359-6454; ISSN ACMAFD
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
COPPER ALLOYS
CORRELATIONS
DENDRITES
LIQUID METALS
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
MICROSTRUCTURE
SOLIDIFICATION
ZINC ALLOYS