Modelling of the thermal history of a non-spherical molten metal droplet during solidification

Abstract

A mathematical model to describe the thermal history of an atomised non-spherical droplet during solidification is formulated. Four distinct solidification stages, the initial transition stage, the rapid solidification stage, the slow solidification stage, and the final transition stage, have been identified. As the initial undercooling increases, the extent of the initial transition stage is smaller, and the recalescence temperature range becomes larger. The extent of the rapid solidification stage is larger, and the extents of the slow solidification and the final transition stages are smaller for larger initial undercooling. The final recalescence temperature is lower for larger initial undercooling. The release rate of the latent heat is smaller and the cooling rate is more dominant for the elliptical metal droplets than for the spherical droplets. The extent of the initial transition stage is smaller and the final recalescence temperature is lower for elliptical droplets.