Evolution of particle morphology in semisolid processing

Experimental results are summarized of the formation of spheroidal grain structures in an Al-4.5 wt pct Cu alloy by (1) isothermally holding very fine equiaxed dendrites in the liquid-solid region and (2) direct spheroidal solidification from the melt. The fine-grained dendritic structure was obtained by very rapid solidification in a thin-section (0.8 mm) permanent-mold plate casting under conditions such that solidification took place during the filling process and, hence, during rapid fluid flow. Grains of approximately 30 μm in diameter (representing a grain density of about 3×10⁴ mm⁻³) were obtained; these ripened to a spheroidal morphology in the liquid-solid region in less than 5 seconds. A similarly high grain count was then obtained in the bulk melt by vigorous agitation and rapid cooling near the liquidus temperature; the melt was thereafter cooled more slowly. Under these conditions, a spherical morphology formed early in solidification and grew in that form. The evolution of particle size with time in the liquid-solid region is shown to be essentially identical in the initially dendritic and spherical-growth experiments.