Dendrite remelting of petal-shaped iron-rich nanoparticles in Cu-2 wt% Fe alloy at the nanoscale

Abstract

Cu-2wt% Fe copper alloy was fabricated under convection solidification condition. Morphologies of iron-rich nanoparticles formed in the Cu-2wt% Fe alloy melt were characterized. Results show that some spherical iron-rich nanoparticle converted into petal-shaped nanoparticle when growing up, and then was split into several smaller spherical or diamond nanoparticles. Dendrite remelting phenomena of iron-rich nanoparticle was observed during solidification process, which is caused by solute redistribution of iron-rich particle as well as the melt convection during solidification process. By taking advantage of dendrite remelting in as-cast Cu-2wt% Fe alloy, the size and quantity of precipitated phase can be potentially controlled.