Interfacial Energy Anisotropy Affecting Dendrite Growth of Magnesium Alloy

Abstract

Numerical simulations based on a new regularized phase field model were presented, simulating the solidification of magnesium alloy. The effects of weak and strong interfacial energy anisotropy on the dendrite growth are studied. The results indicate that with weak interfacial energy anisotropy, the entire dendrite displays six-fold symmetry and no secondary branch appeared. Under strong interfacial energy anisotropy conditions, corners form on both the main stem and the tips of the side branches of the dendrites, the entire facet dendrite displays six-fold symmetry. As the solidification time increases, the tip temperature and velocity of the dendrite and facet dendrite finally tend to stable values. The stable velocity of the facet dendrite is 0.4 at ε6 is 0.05 and this velocity is twice that observed (0.2) at ε6 is 0.005.