Investigation on Solidification in Cu-20wt%Fe Alloy through In Situ Observation

Abstract

The performance of Cu-Fe alloy is related to the solidification structure, which is directly determined by the microstructure evolution during solidification. The solidification sequence, solid–liquid interface variation, and microstructural evolution of Cu-20wt%Fe alloy at three cooling rates (0.3, 1.5, and 5.0 °C/s) were investigated. The results indicate that the remelting of primary γ-Fe dendrites was directly observed through the solidification experiment, and the partial γ-Fe dendrite was fragmented owing to remelting. The Fe phase morphology changed from the cellular structure to the typical finer and longer dendrite structure with the cooling rate increasing. As the cooling rate increased, the constitutional undercooling caused by the decrease in the Fe atom concentration and the increase in the Cu atom concentration increased in the solidifying interface. There was a parabolic relationship between the growth rate of the dendrite tip and time. Meanwhile, the growth of the primary γ-Fe phase was inhibited by the insufficient diffusion of Fe and Cu at the solidification front, which resulted in a decrease in the Fe phase volume fraction, and the Fe content in the Fe dendritic phase decreased slightly.