Microstructural Evolution of deeply undercooled metallic melts

Rapid solidification of metals and alloys has
developed from an insignificant activity into an
industrial practice and an important process for
research studies. It is generally brought about by
one of the following two methods. The first is by
rapid quenching from the melt, e.g. melt spinning.
The second method involves undercooling the liquid
by a large degree below its melting temperature
prior to nucleation. In this way, a large driving
force for rapid solidification accumulates due to
the large difference in Gibbs free energy between
the solid and the liquid state. This book presents
on overview of solidifcation and microstructural
evolution of deeply undercooled metallic melts. The
experimental methods for acheiving large degrees of
undercooling prior to nucleation are also
considered. Detailed examples are provided for the
pure Cu, Cu-O and Cu-Sn alloy systems. Special
emphasis is placed on issues including grain
refinement, twinned dendritic growth and dendrite-
tip splitting, as these are currently one of the
most widely studied and yet not fully furnished
microstructural effects observed during
solidification far from equilibrium.

Autorentext
Kalin Ivanov Dragnevski obtained his MSc from UCTM, Sofia,
Bulgaria & his PhD from the Department of Materials at Leeds
University. Following a short spell in industry, he took a
research position in the Cavendish Laboratory at Cambridge
University. He is now in a research & management post in the
Engineering Department at Oxford University.

Klappentext
Rapid solidification of metals and alloys has developed from an insignificant activity into an industrial practice and an important process for research studies. It is generally brought about by one of the following two methods. The first is by rapid quenching from the melt, e.g. melt spinning. The second method involves undercooling the liquid by a large degree below its melting temperature prior to nucleation. In this way, a large driving force for rapid solidification accumulates due to the large difference in Gibbs free energy between the solid and the liquid state. This book presents on overview of solidifcation and microstructural evolution of deeply undercooled metallic melts. The experimental methods for acheiving large degrees of undercooling prior to nucleation are also considered. Detailed examples are provided for the pure Cu, Cu-O and Cu-Sn alloy systems. Special emphasis is placed on issues including grain refinement, twinned dendritic growth and dendrite- tip splitting, as these are currently one of the most widely studied and yet not fully furnished microstructural effects observed during solidification far from equilibrium.