Crystallisation kinetics and structure of modified Zn\u2013Al\u2013Cu alloys

Abstract

The primary purpose of the work was to try to answer the following questions: How will the addition of lanthanum and cerium affect the crystallisation kinetics of the alloys tested? What will be the relationship between changes in the shape of the derivative curve and the microstructure and the same properties of Zn–Al10–Cu1 alloys? To improve properties of the casting zinc alloy, modification of the structure consisting in the change in the morphology of alloy structural constituents has been applied, primarily by reducing interfacial eutectic α′ + η, reduction in the size of fundamental components, as well as the effect of La on the change in the grain morphology of the solid solution with the aluminium matrix from the dendritic one to the “tweed” one. To describe the phenomena that occur in the material during solidification as a result of the application of modifiers, the thermal derivative analysis and structural analysis using scanning and transmission electron microscopy method were carried out.