An Evaluation of Combustion Kinetics for the Synthesis Reaction of the Reinforcing Phase During Casting Phase During Casting

The computer modeling of the solidification process in castings with local composite reinforcement (LCR) obtained as a result of in situ reactions of self-propagating high temperature synthesis (SHS) is difficult due to limited data on the thermo-physical parameters of exothermic effects and the kinetics of the synthesis reaction. In the present study, Hadfield cast steel casting was manufactured with LCR containing titanium carbide particles obtained in situ by the SHS method. Reaction kinetics of titanium carbide synthesis in the composite casting were determined on the basis of temperature measurements in the area of LCR during the process. For the estimation of the reaction, the Fourier Thermal Analysis method was used. The paper presents the results of temperature measurement and the results of the calculation of SHS reaction kinetics. It was found that the reaction time under the conditions of the analyzed casting is below 3 s.

Extended Method of Volume Change Measurements during Solidification of Lamellar Graphite Iron

Lamellar graphite iron (LGI) is an important technical alloy used to produce cast components for the automotive and the marine industry. The performance of the component is defined by the solidification sequence. Therefore, a lot of research work has been done in the field of solidification. The present work introduces a new measurement approach that combines advanced dilatation measurements with thermal analysis to investigate the solidification of LGI. The method involves a thermally balanced spherical sample. The temperature values are measured in the geometrical center and on the surface of the sample. The released heat of solidification is calculated by using the Fourier Thermal Analysis (FTA) method. The displacement values are measured on the surface of the sample. The volume change is calculated from the displacement data. The dilatation results clearly shows the advantage of the multidirectional measurement.

Solidification Chronology of the Metal Matrix and a Study of Conditions for Micropore Formation in Cast Irons Using EPMA and FTA

Microsegregation is intimately coupled with solidification, the development of microstructure, and involved in the formation of various casting defects. This paper demonstrates how the local composition of the metal matrix of graphitic cast irons, measured using quantitative electron microprobe analysis, can be used to determine its solidification chronology. The method is applied in combination with Fourier thermal analysis to investigate the formation of micropores in cast irons with varying proportions of compacted and spheroidal graphite produced by remelting. The results indicate that micropores formed at mass fractions of solid between 0.77 and 0.91, which corresponded to a stage of solidification when the temperature decline of the castings was large and increasing. In 4 out of the 5 castings, pores appear to have formed soon after the rate of solidification and heat dissipation had reached their maximum and were decreasing. While the freezing point depression due to build-up of microsegregation and the transition from compacted to spheroidal type growth of the eutectic both influencing solidification kinetics and the temperature evolution of the casting, the results did not indicate a clear relation to the observed late deceleration of solidification.

Thermal and Kinetic Analysis of the solidification of a near eutectic Al-Cu Alloy

ABSTRACTIn this work the thermal and kinetic analysis of the cooling and solidification of a near eutectic Al-Cu alloy is performed using inverse thermal and solidification kinetics analysis. The Fourier thermal analysis is applied to experimental cooling curves to obtain data on solid fraction evolution and latent heat of solidification. Inverse thermal analysis is applied to calculate the global heat transfer coefficients that allow correct simulation of the cooling of experimental probes. The free growth method is used to obtain the eutectic growth coefficients. All the obtained parameters are feed into a heat transfer-solidification kinetics model to validate the methodology and results generated from this work. It is found a relatively good agreement between experimental and predicted cooling curves which suggest that this methodology could be used to generate useful information needed to simulate eutectic solidification.

Numerical Processing of Cooling Curves to Obtain Growth Parameters During Eutectic Solidification

ABSTRACTIn this work a methodology to measure kinetic parameters to describe grain growth during equiaxed eutectic solidification is proposed. This methodology includes the numerical processing of two cooling curves and requires input data concerning the number of grains per unit volume. In addition, free grain growth before impingement and an exponential dependence of the grain growth rate on undercooling are assumed. The evolution of solid fraction of the sample as a function of time is obtained by applying the Fourier thermal analysis (FTA) method. Information collected is processed numerically in order to find numerical values for the pre-exponential and exponential parameters that characterize the grain growth kinetics as a function of undercooling. To validate this methodology a mechanistic model that simulates the cooling and solidification of eutectic Al-Si alloy in a sand mold is used. The results suggest that this methodology can be used to measure the kinetic parameters of equiaxed growth from the numerical processing of cooling curves and grain density data.

Fourier Thermal Analysis of Eutectic Al-Si Alloy with Different Sr Content

The purpose of this work is to explore the capability of Fourier Thermal Analysis (FTA) to detect differences in solidification kinetics between unmodified and Sr modified eutectic Al-Si alloy obtained from the same base alloy. Experimental melts are produced in silicon carbide crucibles using an electrical resistance furnace and burdens of A356 alloy and commercial purity Si. The addition of strontium to the melts is accomplished using Al-10 pct Sr master alloy rod. Chemical composition is controlled using spark emission spectrometry. The changes in microstructure are characterized using optical microscopy. Thermal analysis are performed in cylindrical stainless steel cups coated with a thin layer of boron nitride, using two type-K thermocouples connected to a data acquisition system. Experimental cooling curves are numerically processed using FTA. Results show changes in solidification kinetics of eutectic Al-Si alloy with different Sr content. These changes, measured at the beginning and during solidification of the probes, can be related to the changes in nucleation and growth causing the differences detected during microstructural characterization of the probes.