Influence of multi-walled carbon nanotubes on the solidification process of an Al-12 %Si alloy

Abstract

This paper investigates the influence of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) on the solidification process of an Al-12 %Si alloy. Amulti-phase Eulerian model of solidification is deployed to numerically handle the problem. The simulation determines the cooling curve and addresses the recalescence phenomena along with the estimation of the columnar and globular solid phases;precipitating silicon (PSP) phase and MWCNT phase distributions. The findings reveal that MWCNT significantly affects the cooling rate, leading to multiple recalescence phenomena, and influences the formation and evolution of the columnar and globular grains. MWCNT also impacts silicon segregation, causing fluctuations in silicon phases and redistribution. Furthermore, the study explores the distribution of MWCNT throughout the material and identifies a critical time period for their influence. Overall, the study enhances our understanding of the complex dynamics within the solidification process and provides insights into the role of MWCNT in shaping the microstructure through a mathematical model.