Microsegregation studies of rapidly solidified binary aluminum-copper alloys

Most of the materials that we use in our day-to-day activities undergo solidification at some stage of manufacturing. Normal solidification of alloys can result in chemical inhomogeneity (microsegregation) and coarse structure that can make the material weak. Rapid solidification has been known to reduce microsegregation and produce materials with improved properties. To control the microstructure obtained from rapid solidification, and thus attain desired properties, requires an understanding of microstructure evolution and the resulting microsegregation.; We have studied microsegregation in rapidly solidified Al-Cu alloys using a combination of experiments and modeling. Rapidly solidified Al-Cu alloys were produced using Impulse Atomization. Microsegregation studies were performed on the droplets for different alloy chemistry (Al-4.3%Cu, Al-5%Cu, Al-10%Cu and Al-17%Cu), droplet sizes and gas type. The droplets produced were characterized using X-Ray Tomography, Neutron Diffraction, Electron Microscopy and Stereology. Using these techniques, nucleation and microstructure formation were studied and eutectic amount measured within the droplets. Modeling involved developing a microsegregation model for a droplet solidifying during Impulse Atomization. Rappaz-Thevoz microsegregation model was used coupled with LKT dendrite kinetic model with modification for off-center nucleation.; The results from the experiment and model show that the droplets undergo a nucleation undercooling of approximately 20K with a single, off-center, nucleation event. Individual droplets showed gradation in microstructure believed to be caused due to recalescence. The observed trend in microsegregation showed that the segregation decreases as the alloy composition is increased. Microsegregation also showed a slight decrease with increasing cooling rate, but the trend was not very clear. Based on the alloy composition, droplet size ranges studied and type of gas used (He or N2) the estimated cooling rates were in the range of 102--103 K/s. It was found that the final microsegregation in the droplet is effected by the phenomena taking place in the period between onset of nucleation and end of recalescence. While solute drag may be operative in this period, the nucleation undercooling was too low for solute trapping to take place. Evidence of macrosegregation was also found in the droplets.