A Novel High-throughput Technique for Establishing the Solidification-Microstructure Relationships

This study introduces a novel high-throughput method for establishing the solidification-microstructure relationship. It involves performing melting/solidification experiments in a state-of-the-art Gleeble 3800 facility, with a constant cooling rate and variable temperature gradient. In a single sample cooled at 10 °C/s, a range of temperature gradients from 1 to 40 °C/mm and solidification rates from 0.25 to 10 mm/s was produced. For the first time, a spread of microstructures corresponding to a range of solidification rates was produced, which was confirmed by adequate changes in the grain size as well as secondary dendrite arm spacing. The specific features of the presented approach and its potential were further discussed.