Structure development during solidification of some copper alloys

Abstract

AbstractThe solidification process in some binary copper alloys was studied and special attention was devoted to the growth conditions of the primary phase (cells or dendrites). The actual growth temperature of crystals growing from the mould wall and inwards was measured as a function of constitution, composition, and rate of heat extraction and the morphology of the growing crystals was revealed by metallographic techniques on 'frozen in' samples. The formation and growth of ‘inner equiaxed’ crystals is closely coupled to the development of the columnar crystals and the relationship between the growth conditions of the different crystal types has been studied. In the same manner a number of commercial copper alloys were examined under varying casting conditions and the results referred to the findings from the binary alloys.