Rapid Solidification Behavior and Microstructural Evolution of Copper-based Alloys under Deep Undercooling Condition

Abstract

A deep-undercooling rapid-solidification technique combining cyclic superheating and molten glass purification was employed to successfully prepare Cu60Ni40 and Cu65Ni35 alloys at various undercooling levels. Furthermore, through precise compositional regulation by adjusting the Cu content and introducing Co, the Cu60Ni35Co5 alloy was obtained. The morphological evolution of the solidification front and the variation in solidification rate with undercooling were systematically investigated. By combining metallographic analysis, the BCT model, electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), the microstructural evolution and grain refinement mechanisms of the undercooled alloys were revealed. This work aims to establish the intrinsic relationship among undercooling, solidification behavior, and microstructure, thereby provides both experimental and theoretical foundations for a deeper understanding of the deep undercooling solidification mechanism and microstructural control.

Keywords

undercooling / microstructure / grain refinement / solidification rate

References

[1] Jiang YX, Lou HF, Xie HF, et al. . Development Status and Prospect of Advanced Copper Alloy Materials. Strategic Study of CAE, 2020, 22(5): 84-92 J]

[2] Xu L, Hu Q, Liu JW, et al. Research Status and Prospect of Corrosion-Resistant Copper Alloy Containing Nickel for Marine Environment[J]. Copper Engineering, 2022, (6): 1–6

[3] Zhao S, Li JF, Liu L, et al. . Solidification of Undercooled Ag-Cu Eutectic Alloy With the Sb Addition. Journal of Alloys and Compounds, 2009, 478(1–2): 252-256 J]

[4] Jin SX. Study on Precipitation Strengthening and Grain Refinement Strengthening of Al-Mg-Si-Cu Alloy for Structural Materials, 2019, Guangzhou. South China University of Technology

[5] Wang L, Wang C, Li QF, et al. . Correlation of Mechanical Anisotropy With Fine Grain Strengthening for Sm2Co17-type Sintered Permanent Magnets. Journal of Rare Earths, 2022, 40(10): 1 584-1 591 J]

[6] Sun WL, Zhang ZM, Xu CJ, et al. . Research Progress in Deep Undercooling Rapid Solidification Technology. Ordnance Material Science and Engineering, 2005, 28(1): 66-71[J]

[7] Di Schino A, Kenny JM. Grain Refinement Strengthening of a Microcrystalline High Nitrogen Austenitic Stainless Steel-Science Direct. Materials Letters, 2003, 57(12): 1 830-1 834 J]

[8] Zhang WR, Geng GH, Chen WY. Research on Undercooling Grain Refinement Technology. Applied Mechanics and Materials, 2014, 643: 342-348 J]

[9] Dragnevski KI, Pellegrino A, Heard R, et al. . Mechanical Behaviour of Rapidly Solidified Copper: Effects of Undercooling and Strain Rate. Materials Science and Technology, 2020, 36(2): 202-209 J]

[10] Wang H, Liu F, Yang G. Experimental Study of Grain Refinement Mechanism in Undercooled Ni-15at%Cu Alloy. Journal of Materials Research, 2010, 25(10): 1 963-1 974 J]

[11] Haque N, Cochrane RF, Mullis AM. The Role of Recrystallization in Spontaneous Grain Refinement of Rapidly Solidified Ni3Ge. Metallurgical and Materials Transactions A, 2017, 48(11): 5 424-5 431 J]

[12] Cochrane RF, Battersby SE, Mullis AM. The Mechanisms for Spontaneous Grain Refinement in Undercooled Cu-O and Cu-Sn Melts. Materials Science & Engineering A, 2001, 304: 262-266 J]

[13] Wang P, Liu F, Lu YP, et al. . Grain Refinement and Coarsening in Hypercooled Solidification of Eutectic Alloy. Journal of Crystal Growth, 2008, 310(19): 4 309-4 313 J]

[14] Mullis AM. The Origins of Spontaneous Grain Refinement in Deeply Undercooled Metallic Melts. Metals-Open Access Metallurgy Journal, 2014, 4(2): 155-167[J]

[15] Zhang J, Zhang F, Luo X, et al. . Rapid Solidification of a FeSi Intermetallic Compound in Undercooled Melts: Dendrite Growth and Microstructure Transitions. Journal of Materials Science, 2020, 55(9): 4 094-4 112 J]

[16] Castle EG, Mullis AM, Cochrane RF. Mechanism Selection for Spontaneous Grain Refinement in Undercooled Metallic Melts. Acta Materialia, 2014, 77: 76-84 J]

[17] Karma A. Model of Grain Refinement in Solidification of Undercooled Melts. International Journal of Non-Equilibrium Processing (UK), 1998, 11(2): 201-233[J]

[18] LI J, LIU Y, LU Y, et al. . Structural Evolution of Undercooled Ni-Cu Alloys. Journal of Crystal Growth, 1998, 192(3–4): 462-470 J]

[19] Xu XL. Investigation on Solidification Microstructure Evolution and Grain Refinement Mechanism of Undercooled Binary Alloys, 2015, Xi’an. Northwestern Polytechnical University

[20] Ma K. Study on Microstructure and Solidification Rate of Deeply Undercooled Ni-Cu Alloys, 2019, Taiyuan. North University of China

RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS

Wuhan University of Technology and Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, Part of Springer Nature