Modeling the Interaction of Convex Solidifying Interfaces with Spherical Particles

AGALIOTIS, E. M.; MARIO ROBERTO ROSENBERGER; ARES, A.E.; SCHVEZOV, C. E.

Pekin

Conferencia; THE 16th INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON CRYSTAL GROWTH (ICCG-16); 2010

In the present report, the phenomenon of pushing is modeled for the case of particles generating a convex interface is considered. The thermal and fluid field calculations are made in a decoupled way determining first the shape of the interface, and then the two main forces acting during pushing; the drag and repulsion forces. The thermal and fluid flow fields were calculated using finite element methods. Both, the drag and repulsion forces are integrated at each step and compared until both are equal and the steady state of pushing is reached. The pushing force is integrated using the Casimir-Lifshitz-Van der Waals interaction. It was found that the model predicts the equilibrium distance in a steady state of pushing for spherical particles and a convex solidifying interface. It is shown that the separation equilibrium distance for a convex interface with respect to an ideal planar interface results in a larger solidification velocity for trapping. The model results were in good agreement with experimental results for the critical velocity reported in the literature.