A quantitative study of the solute diffusion zone during solidification of Al-Cu alloys via in-situ synchrotron X-radiography and numerical simulation

The solute diffusion zone plays a critical role in determining nucleation efficiency during heterogeneous nucleation. In this study, in-situ synchrotron X-radiography and numerical modeling were employed to investigate the Solute Suppressed Nucleation Zone (SSNZ) surrounding growing equiaxed grains...

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Main Authors: Yiwang Jia, Xiaojuan Shang, Lang Yuan, Guangkai Yang, Yuanzheng Cao, Da Shu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2024-11-01
Series:Materials & Design
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0264127524007731
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author Yiwang Jia
Xiaojuan Shang
Lang Yuan
Guangkai Yang
Yuanzheng Cao
Da Shu
author_facet Yiwang Jia
Xiaojuan Shang
Lang Yuan
Guangkai Yang
Yuanzheng Cao
Da Shu
author_sort Yiwang Jia
collection DOAJ
description The solute diffusion zone plays a critical role in determining nucleation efficiency during heterogeneous nucleation. In this study, in-situ synchrotron X-radiography and numerical modeling were employed to investigate the Solute Suppressed Nucleation Zone (SSNZ) surrounding growing equiaxed grains in Al-13Cu alloys. Quantitative analysis of SSNZ and constitutional undercooling was conducted using image processing techniques. Solute concentration and SSNZ length in the <110> direction exceed those in the <100> direction, suggesting higher solute enrichment in dendrite centers. This causes greater undercooling in the dendrite growth direction (<100>) with faster dendrite growth rates. As equiaxed dendrites grow, SSNZ length in the <100> direction decreases while increasing significantly in the <110> direction. Utilizing data obtained from numerical simulations, we refined the analytical equation governing solute distribution preceding the solid–liquid interface under three-dimensional conditions, and the computational equation determining the SSNZ length. The SSNZ lengths derived from the optimized equation along the <100> and <110> directions demonstrate more agreement with both experimental observations and numerical simulation outcomes. Higher growth rates rapidly increase undercooling, limiting the development of nucleation-free zone. Additionally, SSNZ area growth slows at higher cooling rate, correlating with increased solute concentration and reduced area in SSNZ.
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publishDate 2024-11-01
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spelling doaj-art-08303eaa85d2485a9c1e91678577e7752025-08-20T02:30:46ZengElsevierMaterials & Design0264-12752024-11-0124711339810.1016/j.matdes.2024.113398A quantitative study of the solute diffusion zone during solidification of Al-Cu alloys via in-situ synchrotron X-radiography and numerical simulationYiwang Jia0Xiaojuan Shang1Lang Yuan2Guangkai Yang3Yuanzheng Cao4Da Shu5College of Materials and Metallurgy, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, PR China; Corresponding authors.College of Materials and Metallurgy, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, PR China; Guizhou Communications Polytechnic, Guiyang, Guizhou 551400, PR ChinaDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, University of South Carolina, Columbia 29201, USACollege of Materials and Metallurgy, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, PR ChinaCollege of Materials and Metallurgy, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, PR ChinaShanghai Key Lab of Advanced High-temperature Materials and Precision Forming, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, PR China; Corresponding authors.The solute diffusion zone plays a critical role in determining nucleation efficiency during heterogeneous nucleation. In this study, in-situ synchrotron X-radiography and numerical modeling were employed to investigate the Solute Suppressed Nucleation Zone (SSNZ) surrounding growing equiaxed grains in Al-13Cu alloys. Quantitative analysis of SSNZ and constitutional undercooling was conducted using image processing techniques. Solute concentration and SSNZ length in the <110> direction exceed those in the <100> direction, suggesting higher solute enrichment in dendrite centers. This causes greater undercooling in the dendrite growth direction (<100>) with faster dendrite growth rates. As equiaxed dendrites grow, SSNZ length in the <100> direction decreases while increasing significantly in the <110> direction. Utilizing data obtained from numerical simulations, we refined the analytical equation governing solute distribution preceding the solid–liquid interface under three-dimensional conditions, and the computational equation determining the SSNZ length. The SSNZ lengths derived from the optimized equation along the <100> and <110> directions demonstrate more agreement with both experimental observations and numerical simulation outcomes. Higher growth rates rapidly increase undercooling, limiting the development of nucleation-free zone. Additionally, SSNZ area growth slows at higher cooling rate, correlating with increased solute concentration and reduced area in SSNZ.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0264127524007731SolidificationGrain refinementX-radiographyNumerical simulationSolute suppressed nucleation zone
spellingShingle Yiwang Jia
Xiaojuan Shang
Lang Yuan
Guangkai Yang
Yuanzheng Cao
Da Shu
A quantitative study of the solute diffusion zone during solidification of Al-Cu alloys via in-situ synchrotron X-radiography and numerical simulation
Materials & Design
Solidification
Grain refinement
X-radiography
Numerical simulation
Solute suppressed nucleation zone
title A quantitative study of the solute diffusion zone during solidification of Al-Cu alloys via in-situ synchrotron X-radiography and numerical simulation
title_full A quantitative study of the solute diffusion zone during solidification of Al-Cu alloys via in-situ synchrotron X-radiography and numerical simulation
title_fullStr A quantitative study of the solute diffusion zone during solidification of Al-Cu alloys via in-situ synchrotron X-radiography and numerical simulation
title_full_unstemmed A quantitative study of the solute diffusion zone during solidification of Al-Cu alloys via in-situ synchrotron X-radiography and numerical simulation
title_short A quantitative study of the solute diffusion zone during solidification of Al-Cu alloys via in-situ synchrotron X-radiography and numerical simulation
title_sort quantitative study of the solute diffusion zone during solidification of al cu alloys via in situ synchrotron x radiography and numerical simulation
topic Solidification
Grain refinement
X-radiography
Numerical simulation
Solute suppressed nucleation zone
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0264127524007731
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