X-ray observations showing the effect of fluid flow on dendritic solidification in Ga-In alloys

The directional solidification of Ga–25wt%In alloys within a Hele-Shaw cell has been studied by X-ray radioscopy. The investigations have focused on the influence of melt convection on the dendritic growth. Natural convection occurs during a bottom up solidification because a lighter solute is rejected during crystallization. Forced convection has been produced by a specific electromagnetic pump. The direction of forced melt flow is almost horizontal at the solidification front. Melt flow induces various effects on grain morphology caused primarily by convective transport of solute, such as facilitation of the growth of primary trunks or lateral branches, dendrite remelting, fragmentation or freckle formation depending on the dendrite orientation, the flow direction and intensity. Forced flow eliminates solutal plumes and damps local fluctuations of solute. A preferential growth of the secondary arms occurs at the upstream side of the dendrites, whereas high solute concentration at the downstream side inhibits the formation of secondary branches.