Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Development of solidification microstructures in a fibre reinforced alloy

  • Papers
  • Published:
Journal of Materials Science Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The solidification behaviour of a fibre reinforced Al-6 wt% Cu alloy, containing 30 vol% of 3 μm diameter, semi-continuous, aligned alumina fibres has been studied. Results are presented to show the influence of fibres on the microstructural development of and microsegregation in the matrix during freezing. The effect of total solidification time, θt, on solidification behaviour was examined for 1<θt<520 S. By using interrupted solidification experiments microstructural development was studied in detail. It was found that α-Al begins to grow within interfibre regions, and grows towards the Al2O3 fibres, avoiding them where possible. Consequently fibres are located in the last regions to solidify. When θt>10 s the final microstructure is non-dendritic, and CuAl2 is located predominantly at the fibre-matrix interface. When θt ≃ 1 s it was observed that the final microstructure is dendritic with a periodic segregation pattern, and the CuAl2 is more dispersed. The matrix composition becomes more uniform, and the minimum matrix composition rises as θt increases. The growth and microsegregation are analysed and discussed using simple semi-analytical models. The implications are that fibres significantly influence solidification behaviour if λf/λs<1, where λf is the average interfibre spacing and λs the secondary dendrite arm spacing which would develop in the unreinforced alloy.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. W. Kurz andD. J. Fisher, “Fundamentals of Solidification” (Trans Tech, Aedermansdorf, 1986) pp. 65–96.

    Google Scholar 

  2. R. Trivedi andK. Somboonsuk,Mater. Sci. Engng 65 (1984) 65.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. M. C. Flemings, “Solidification Processing” (McGraw- Hill, New York, 1974) p. 150.

    Google Scholar 

  4. K. P. Young andD. H. Kirkwood,Met. Trans. A6 (1975) 197.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. W. Kurz andD. J. Fisher,Acta Metall. 29 (1981) 11.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. J. D. Hunt, in Proceedings Conference on Solidification and Casting of Metals, Sheffield, July 1977 (Metals Society, London, 1979) p. 3.

    Google Scholar 

  7. M. Rappaz andPH. Thévoz,Acta Metall. 35 (1987) 1487.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Idem., ibid.,35 (1987) 2929.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. D. H. Kirkwood,Mat. Sci. Engng 65 (1984) 101.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. T. F. Bower, H. D. Brody andM. C. Flemings,Trans. AIME 236 (1966) 624.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. M. H. Burden andJ. D. Hunt,J. Cryst. Growth 22 (1974) 99.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. P. N. Quested andM. McLean,Mater. Sci. Engng 65 (1984) 171.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. T. W. Clyne andJ. F. Mason,Met. Trans. 18A (1987) 1519.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. C. R. Cook, D. I. Yun, andW. H. Hunt Jr., in “Cast Reinforced Metal Composites” (American Society of Metals, Metals Park, Ohio, 1988) p. 195.

    Google Scholar 

  15. J. A. Cornie, A. Mortensen, M. N. Gungor andM. C. Flemings, in Proceedings of the 5th International Conference on Composite Materials, edited by W. C. Harrigan, J. Strife and A. K. Dhingra (TMS, Warrendale, 1986) 809.

    Google Scholar 

  16. A. Mortensen, M. N. Gungor, J. A. Cornie andM. C. Flemings,J. Met. 38 (1986) 30.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. J. A. Cornie, A. Mortensen andM. C. Flemings, in Proceedings of the 6th International Conference on Composite Materials, edited by F. L. Matthews, N. C. R. Buskell, J. M. Hodginson, and J. Morton (Elsevier Applied Science, London, 1987) p. 2.297.

    Google Scholar 

  18. A. Mortensen, J. A. Cornie andM. C. Flemings,Met. Trans. 19A (1988) 133.

    Google Scholar 

  19. J. A. Sekhar andR. Trivedi,Mater. Sci. Engng A114 (1989) 133.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. G. R. Cappelman, J. F. Watts andT. W. Clyne,J. Mater. Sci. 20 (1985) 2159.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Data Sheet on Safimax (ICI Chemical and Polymers Group, Runcorn, UK, 1987).

  22. R. T. De Hoff andF. N. Rhines, “Quantitative Microscopy” (McGraw-Hill, New York, 1968) p. 283.

    Google Scholar 

  23. M. Gündüz andJ. D. Hunt,Acta Metall. 33 (1985) 1651.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. J. D. Hunt andD. G. McCartney,ibid. 35 (1987) 89.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. T. W. Clyne andW. Kurz,Met. Trans. 12A (1981) 965.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. H. D. Brody andM. C. Flemings,Trans. AIME 236 (1966) 615.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. M. N. Gungor, PhD Thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (1986).

  28. R. Trumper andV. Scott, in Proceedings of the 3rd European Conference on Composite Materials, edited by A. R. Bunsell, P. Lamicq and A. Masiah (Elsevier Applied Science, London, 1989) p. 139.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Liverpool, PO Box 147, L69 3BX, Liverpool, UK

    Q. F. Li & D. G. McCartney

  2. ICI Advanced Materials, PO Box 11, WA7 4QF, The Heath, Runcorn, Cheshire, UK

    A. M. Walker

Authors
  1. Q. F. Li
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. D. G. McCartney
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. A. M. Walker
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Li, Q.F., McCartney, D.G. & Walker, A.M. Development of solidification microstructures in a fibre reinforced alloy. J Mater Sci 26, 3565–3574 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00557145

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00557145

Keywords

Search

Navigation