Effects of lateral constraints on the morphology evolution and solute diffusion during solidification in a binary alloy

Abstract

Effects of lateral constraints on the microstructure evolution during solidification of binary Ni–Cu alloys were studied by implementing a modified phase-field model. Microstructure formations from original free growing dendrite encountering with lateral constraints with different locations were simulated and analyzed. Results indicate that lateral constraints have a significant effect on the microstructure evolution by re-development of a dendrite–columnar structure. The solute partition at solid–liquid interfaces was detected and the effect of relative distance between the original free growing dendrite and constraints was investigated and discussed. Especially, effects of lateral constraints on growth of dendrite arrays with different original spacing were investigated, and a regulating effect of the constraints on the microstructure formations was detected and discussed. In general, the relative distance between growing dendrites and lateral constraints is the determinant of the solidifying microstructure by affection the solute and temperature distribution, and thus, lateral constraints can be implemented as an effective way to regulate the microstructure formations.