Columnar to equiaxed transition of eutectic in hypoeutectic aluminium–silicon alloys

Abstract

Directional solidification of unmodified and strontium modified binary, high-purity, aluminium–7 wt% silicon and commercial A356 alloys has been carried out to investigate the mechanism of eutectic solidification. The microstructure of the eutectic growth interface was investigated with optical microscopy and Electron Backscattering Diffraction (EBSD). In the commercial alloys, the eutectic solidification interface extends in the growth direction and creates a eutectic mushy zone. A planar eutectic growth front is observed in the high-purity alloys. The eutectic aluminium has mainly the same crystallographic orientation as the dendrites in the unmodified alloys and the strontium modified high-purity alloy. A more complex eutectic grain structure is found in the strontium modified commercial alloy. A mechanism involving constitutional undercooling and a columnar to equiaxed transition explains the differences between pure and commercial alloys. It is probably caused by the segregation of iron and magnesium and the activation of nucleants in the commercial alloy.