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Behavior of ceramic particles at the solid- liquid metal interface in metal matrix composites

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Abstract

Directional solidification experiments have been conducted to document SiC particle behavior at the solid-liquid interface in Al-2 pct Mg (cellular interface) and Al-6.1 pct Ni (eutectic interface) alloys. Particle size ranged from 20 to 150 μm diameter. Although predictions based on the thermodynamic approach suggest that no engulfment is possible, it was demonstrated that particles can be entrapped in the solid if adequate solidification rates and temperature gradients are used. The main factors responsible for this behavior are considered to be the difference between the thermal conductivities of particles and metal, the buildup of volume fraction of particles at the interface, and the morphological instability of the interface induced by the particles. A model including the contribution of drag and thermal conductivity has been proposed. Calculation with this model produced numbers for the critical velocity slightly higher than those evaluated experimentally. Various factors which can account for this discrepancy are discussed.

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Abbreviations

d o :

Interatomic distance

δFnet :

Net change in free energy during engulfment

F :

Force acting on particle

F d :

Drag force

F r :

Repulsive force

f p :

Volume fraction of particles

G, G 1 :

Thermal gradient in liquid

G p :

Thermal gradient in particle

g :

Acceleration due to gravity

K :

Constant in Neumann's equation

k :

Boltzmann's constant

k p :

Thermal conductivity of particle

k L :

Thermal conductivity of liquid

N :

No. of points at which particle is in contact with

N :

No. of points at which particle is in contact with

V cr :

Critical growth velocity

r :

Radius of particle

r b :

Radius of bump

T :

Temperature

T 1 T2 :

Temperatures on outside of particle

T M :

Melting temperature╖

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Metallurgical Engineering, The University of Alabama, 35487, Tuscaloosa, AL

    D. M. Stefanescu (Professor), B. K. Dhindaw (Visiting Scholar (permanently a Professor at I.I.T. Kharagpur), S. A. Kacar (Graduate Research Assistant) & A. Moitra (Graduate Research Assistant)

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  1. D. M. Stefanescu
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  2. B. K. Dhindaw
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  3. S. A. Kacar
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  4. A. Moitra
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Stefanescu, D.M., Dhindaw, B.K., Kacar, S.A. et al. Behavior of ceramic particles at the solid- liquid metal interface in metal matrix composites. Metall Trans A 19, 2847–2855 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02645819

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