Modeling of eutectic structure formation by a modified cellular automaton model

Abstract

In this paper, a modified cellular automaton (MCA) model was extended to the multi-phase solidification system for the eutectic structure simulation. The present model incorporates the effects of constitutional undercooling and curvature undercooling on the interface local undercooling and takes into account the solute redistribution during eutectic solidification. Different growth algorithms were employed for the growth of non-faceted and faceted crystals. This model was applied to simulate the eutectic structure formation in a transparent organic eutectic alloy, and eutectic and hypoeutectic Al-Si alloys. The effects of interface undercooling and growth velocity on the eutectic morphology, such as the lamellar spacing and interface shape, were investigated. It can be concluded that the present MCA model can successfully predict the eutectic growth morphology in both regular non-faceted / non-faceted and irregular non-faceted / faceted eutectic alloy systems.