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Analysis and calculation of macrosegregation in a casting ingot, exhibits C and E

A computer model which describes the solidification of a binary metal alloy in an insulated rectangular mold with a temperature gradient is presented. A numerical technique, applicable to a broad class of moving boundary problems, was implemented therein. The solidification model described is used to calculate the macrosegregation within the solidified casting by coupling the equations for liquid flow in the solid/liquid or mushy zone with the energy equation for heat flow throughout the ingot and thermal convection in the bulk liquid portion. The rate of development of the solid can be automatically calculated by the model. Numerical analysis of such solidification parameters as enthalpy and boundary layer flow is displayed. On-line user interface and software documentation are presented.

Poirier, D. R.↗

Macrosegregation in aluminum alloy ingot cast by the semicontinuous direct chill method

A theoretical model of the semicontinuous DC casting method is developed to predict the positive segregation observed at the subsurface and the negative segregation commonly found at the center of large commercial-size aluminum alloy ingot. Qualitative analysis of commercial-size aluminum alloy semicontinuous cast direct chill (DC) ingot is carried out. In the analysis, both positive segregation in the ingot subsurface and negative segregation at the center of the ingot are examined. Ingot subsurface macrosegregation is investigated by considering steady state casting of a circular cross-section binary alloy ingot. Nonequilibrium solidification is assumed with no solid diffusion, constant equilibrium partition ratio, and constant solid density.

Yu, H.↗

A review of our present understanding of macrosegregation in ingots

The present understanding of the mechanisms responsible for macrosegregation occurring in ingots produced by electroslag remelting (ESR), vacuum arc remelting (VAR), direct chill (DC), and continuous casting is reviewed. A detailed description is given of laboratory experiments on model Sn-Pb and Al-Cu alloys. The experimental findings are compared with theoretical predictions. Data are also presented on a high-temperature Ni-27 wt % Mo alloy ESR ingot and 2000 series aluminum alloy DC ingots. Comparison is made to theoretical predictions where appropriate.

Mehrabian, R.↗

MPS solidification model. Analysis and calculation of macrosegregation in a casting ingot

Work performed on several existing solidification models for which computer codes and documentation were developed is presented. The models describe the solidification of alloys in which there is a time varying zone of coexisting solid and liquid phases; i.e., the S/L zone. The primary purpose of the models is to calculate macrosegregation in a casting or ingot which results from flow of interdendritic liquid in this S/L zone during solidification. The flow, driven by solidification contractions and by gravity acting on density gradients in the interdendritic liquid, is modeled as flow through a porous medium. In Model 1, the steady state model, the heat flow characteristics are those of steady state solidification; i.e., the S/L zone is of constant width and it moves at a constant velocity relative to the mold. In Model 2, the unsteady state model, the width and rate of movement of the S/L zone are allowed to vary with time as it moves through the ingot. Each of these models exists in two versions. Models 1 and 2 are applicable to binary alloys; models 1M and 2M are applicable to multicomponent alloys.

Poirier, D. R.↗

Bulk undercooling, nucleation, and macrosegregation of Pb-Sn alloys

Preliminary ground-based studies on the undercooling behavior of large samples (23 g) of lead-tin alloys are presented. Evidence of gravity-related segregation effects is found, and a possible area for future microgravity experimentation is thus identified. Detailed descriptions of the experimental procedure used to achieve bulk undercoolings of between 0.5 and 34 K, depending on composition, are given. The bulk undercoolings obtained in this study are comparable with those found in small droplets. The large size of the present samples enabled the observation of sedimentation and other macrosegregation processes.

Degroh, H. C., III↗

Gravitational macrosegregation in unidirectionally solidified lead-tin alloy

Nine small samples of binary lead-tin alloys were solidifed unidirectionally upward, with both cooling rate and thermal gradient being closely controlled. Results presented include thermal measurements, chemical composition measurements, and microstructural characterization. In the six Pb-15 wt pct Sn ingots, normal macrosegregation was observed, with Sn content being highest at the top of the ingot. No significant macrosegretation was noted in the three ingots of nominal composition Sn-15 wt pct Sn.

Wang, L.↗

Macrosegregation in undercooled Pb-Sn eutectic alloys

A novel technique resulting in large undercoolings in bulk samples (23g) of lead-tin eutectic alloy is described. Samples of eutectic composition were processed with undercoolings ranging from 4 to 20 K and with cooling rates varying between 0.04 to 4 K/sec. The final macrostructure of undercooled samples depends on both the initial undercooling of the melt and the cooling rate. Gravity-driven segregation is found to increase with increasing undercooling. A eutectic Pb-Sn alloy undercooled at 20 K and cooled at 4 K/sec had a composition of about Pb-72 wt pct Sn at the top and 55 pct Sn at the bottom. Macrosegregation in these undercooled lead-tin eutectic alloys is shown to be primarily due to a sink/float mechanism caused by the difference in density of the solid and liquid phases and the undercooling and nucleation behavior of the alloy.

De Groh, H. C., III↗

A study of the effects of macrosegregation and buoyancy-driven flow in binary mixture solidification

A generalized anisotropic porous medium approach is developed for modelling the flow, heat and mass transport processes during binary mixture solidification. Transient predictions are obtained using FEM, coupled with an implicit time-marching scheme, for solidification inside a two-dimensional rectangular enclosure. A parametric study focusing attention on the effects of solutal buoyancy and thermal buoyancy is presented. It is observed that three parameters, namely the thermal Rayleigh number, the solutal Rayleigh number, and the relative density change parameter, significantly alter the flow fields in the liquid and the mushy regions. Depending upon the nature of these flow fields, the solute enrichment caused by macrosegregation may occur in the top or the bottom region of the enclosure.

Sinha, S. K.↗

Effect of Crucible Diameter Reduction on the Convection, Macrosegregation, and Dendritic Morphology during Directional Solidification of Pb-2.2 Wt Pct Sb Alloy

The Pb-2.2 wt pct Sb alloy has been directionally solidified in 1-, 2-, 3-, and 7-mm-diameter crucibles with planar and dendritic liquid-solid interface orphology. For plane front solidification, the experimentally observed macrosegregation along the solidified length follows the relationship proposed by Favier. Application of a 0.4 T transverse magnetic field has no effect on the extent of convection. Reducing the ampoule diameter appears to decrease the extent of convection. However, extensive convection is still present even in the 1-mm-diameter crucible. An extrapolation of the observed behavior indicated that nearly diffusive transport conditions require ampoules that are about 40 microns in diameter. Reduction of the crucible diameter does not appear to have any significant effect on the primary dendrite spacing. However, it results in considerable distortion of the dendrite morphology and ordering. This is especially true for the 1-mm diameter samples.

Chen, Jun↗

Macrosegregation Caused by Convection Associated with Directional Solidification through Cross-Section Change

Al-7 wt% Si and Pb-6 wt% Sb alloy samples were directionally solidified (DS), with liquid above and solid below and gravity pointing down, in cylindrical graphite crucibles through an abrupt cross-section change. Fraction eutectic distribution in the microstructure, primary dendrite spacing and primary dendrite trunk diameters have been measured in the DS samples in the vicinity of section change in order to examine the effect of convection associated with the combined influence of thermosolutal factors and solidification shrinkage. It is observed that convection not only produces extensive radial and axial macrosegregation near cross-section change, it also affects the dendritic array morphology. Primary dendrite spacing and primary dendrite trunk diameter, both, are influenced by this convection. In addition to the experimental results, preliminary results from a numerical model which includes solidification shrinkage and thermosolutal convection in the mushy zone in its analysis will also be presented

Ghods, M.↗

Macrosegregation and Grain Formation Caused by Convection Associated with Directional Solidification Through Cross-Section Increase

Cylindrical Al-7 wt% Silicon, Al-19 wt% Copper and Lead-6 wt% Antimony alloy samples were directionally solidified (DS) with liquid above, solid below, and gravity pointing down, in graphite crucibles having an abrupt cross-sectional increase. These alloys have similar solidification shrinkage but are expected to have different degrees of thermosolutal convection during solidification. Microstructures in the DS samples in the vicinity of the section change have been studied in order to examine the effect of convection associated with the combined influence of thermosolutal effects and solidification shrinkage. Extensive radial and axial macrosegregation associated with cross-section change is observed. It also appears that steepling and local primary alpha-phase remelting resulting from convection are responsible for stray grain formation at the reentrant corners. Preliminary results from a numerical model, which includes solidification shrinkage and thermosolutal convection in the mushy zone, indicate that these regions are prone to solutal remelting of dendrites.

Ghods, Masoud↗

Gravitational macrosegregation in binary Pb-Sn alloy ingots

A space shuttle experiment employing the General Purpose (Rocket) Furnace (GPF) in its isothermal mode of operation is manifested on MSL-3, circa 1989. The central aim of this experiment is to investigate the effect of reduced gravity levels on the segregation behavior in a slowly, and isothermally, cooled sample of a binary Pb-15 wt% Sn alloy. This experiment should be able to simulate, in a small laboratory sample, some aspects of the segragation phenomena occurring in large industrial ingots. Ground-based experiments conducted in the single-cavity simulator of the GPF, in support of the microgravity experiment are described in detail. The results of the MSFC experiments are compared with other related experiments conducted at Case Western Reserve University (CWRS), wherein the isothermal constraints were relaxed. The isothermally processed samples indicate a small and gradual increase in fraction eutectic, and a corresponding increase in tin content, from the bottom to the top of the ingot. The radial variations are minimal near the ingot bottom, but there are large radial variations in the top half. In the CWRU experiments, more severe segregations, including segregation defects known as freckles. Follow up experiments employing the GPF without the isothermal constraints, or other suitably modified space shuttle hardware are suggested.

Laxmanan, V.↗

Gravitational macrosegregation in binary Pb-Sn alloy ingots

A space shuttle experiment employing the General Purpose (Rocket) Furnace (GPF) in its isothermal mode of operation is manifested on MSL-3, circa 1989. The central aim of this experiment is to investigate the effect of reduced gravity levels on the segregation behavior in a slowly, and isothermally, cooled sample of a binary Pb-15 wt pct Sn alloy. This experiment should be able to simulate, in a small laboratory sample, some aspects of the segregation phenomena occurring in large industrial ingots. Ground-based experiments conducted in the single-cavity simulator of the GPF, in support of the microgravity experiment are described in detail. The results of the MSFC experiments are compared with other related experiments conducted at Case Western Reserve University (CWRS), wherein the isothermal constraints were relaxed. The isothermally processed samples indicate a small and gradual increase in fraction eutectic, and a corresponding increase in tin content, from the bottom to the top of the ingot. The radial variations are minimal near the ingot bottom, but there are large radial variations in the top half. In the CWRU experiments, more severe segregations, including segregation defects known as freckles. Follow up experiments employing the GPF without the isothermal constraints, or other suitably modified space shuttle hardware are suggested.

Laxmanan, V.↗

Computer simulation of macrosegregation in directionally solidified circular ingots

The formulation and employment of a computer code designed to simulate the directional solidification of lead-rich Pb-Sn alloys in the form of an ingot with a uniform and circular cross-section are described. The formulation is for steady-state solidification in which convection in the all-liquid zone is ignored. Particular attention was given to designing a code to simulate the effect of a subtle variation of temperature in the radial direction. This is important because a very small temperature difference between the center and the surface of the ingot (e.g., less than 0.5 C ) is enough to cause substantial convection within the mushy-zone when the solidification rate is approximately 0.001 to 0.0001 cm/s.

Yeum, K. S.↗

Thermosolutal convection and macrosegregation in dendritic alloys

A mathematical model of solidification, that simulates the formation of channel segregates or freckles, is presented. The model simulates the entire solidification process, starting with the initial melt to the solidified cast, and the resulting segregation is predicted. Emphasis is given to the initial transient, when the dendritic zone begins to develop and the conditions for the possible nucleation of channels are established. The mechanisms that lead to the creation and eventual growth or termination of channels are explained in detail and illustrated by several numerical examples. A finite element model is used for the simulations. It uses a single system of equations to deal with the all-liquid region, the dendritic region, and the all-solid region. The dendritic region is treated as an anisotropic porous medium. The algorithm uses the bilinear isoparametric element, with a penalty function approximation and a Petrov-Galerkin formulation. The major task was to develop the solidification model. In addition, other tasks that were performed in conjunction with the modeling of dendritic solidification are briefly described.

Poirier, David R.↗