Modeling and experimental analysis of macrosegregation during transient solidification of a ternary Al–6wt%Cu–1wt%Si alloy

Abstract

The aim of this article is to provide a numerical tool, which is able to predict macrosegregation profiles during the solidification of ternary alloys. The solute profiles during the transient directional solidification of an Al–6wt%Cu–1wt%Si alloy were calculated taking into account secondary phase transformations, which occur along the corresponding solidification path. The simulations were compared with experimental segregation profiles determined along the length of a directionally solidified casting through X-ray fluorescence spectrometry measurements. A very good agreement between predictions and experiments has been observed.

Keywords:

• casting
• solidification
• metals and alloys
• thermal properties
• modeling
• segregation

Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge the financial support provided by FAPESP (The Scientific Research Foundation of the State of São Paulo), FAEPEX-UNICAMP, CAPES, and CNPq (The Brazilian Research Council).