THERMAL STUDY AND METALLOGRAPHIC CHARACTERIZATION OF Zn-20%Al AND Zn-20%Al-10%Si-3%Cu ALLOYS DIRECTIONALLY SOLIDIFIED

ALICIA ESTHER ARES; CARLOS ENRIQUE SCHVEZOV

New Orleans, Louisiana, USA.

Simposio; THE 137th TMS ANNUAL MEETING EXHIBITION. Materials Processing Fundamentals.; 2008

The Minerals, Metals and Materials Society

This study was conducted to investigate the directional solidification of Zn-20%Al and Zn-20%Al-10%Si-3%Cu alloys under different conditions of heat transfer at the metal/mould interface. The type of structure obtained in both cases was analyzed and related to the solidification thermal parameters such as cooling rate, growth rate, thermal gradient and recalescence which were determined from the temperature versus time curves. These parameters were correlated with the structure-like length of columnar grains and size of equiaxed grains. The metallographic analyses were done performing quantitative metallography and composition analysis of the different alloying elements along the cast samples by SEM (Scanning Electron Microscopy) and EDXA (Energy Dispersive X-Ray Analysis). Correlations between properties, structures and thermal parameters were found.