Dissemination of IT for the Promotion of Materials Science (DoITPoMS)

DoITPoMS Micrograph Library Full Record for Micrograph 58

Full Record for Micrograph 58

Link to full size image of micrograph 58
[131 KB]

View micrograph
.. in new window

View micrograph and record
.. in new window


You can also view and download the micrographs on Flickr
Micrograph no
58
Brief description
Al 88, Si 12 (wt%), eutectic alloy
Keywords
alloy Link to MATTER Glossary entry for alloy, aluminium Link to MATTER Glossary entry for aluminium, eutectic Link to MATTER Glossary entry for eutectic, metal, modification Link to MATTER Glossary entry for modification, silicon Link to MATTER Glossary entry for silicon
Categories
Metal or alloy
System
Al-Si   Link to phase diagram
Composition
Al 88, Si 12 (wt%)
Standard codes
Reaction
Processing
As-cast (metal mould)
Applications
Sample preparation
Technique
Reflected light microscopy
Length bar
400 μm
Further information
This alloy is of the eutectic composition. From the melt a eutectic is formed between aluminium solid solution and virtually pure silicon. Slow solidification produces a very coarse microstructure. The eutectic comprises large plates of silicon in the aluminium matrix. This microstructure displays poor ductility due to the brittleness of large silicon plates. The microstructure is normally refined through either rapid solidification, which lets the silicon phase assume a fibrous form, or by a process known as modification.

It may be noted that primary aluminium dendrites can be seen, although the composition is very close to the eutectic point and an entirely eutectic microstructure might thus have been expected. This effect is a consequence of the strongly skewed nature of the eutectic "coupled zone" in the Al-Si system. The coupled zone represents the combinations of melt composition and interfacial undercooling (or growth velocity) for which (coupled) eutectic growth can occur. It can be plotted on the phase diagram by extending the two liquidus lines below the eutectic temperature. The Si liquidus line curves sharply back towards higher Si contents as the undercooling is increased. (This is associated with the facetted growth mode of the Si phase.) Thus, depending on growth conditions, a nominally eutectic alloy may solidify initially outside the coupled zone, leading to primary aluminium dendrite formation (before the melt composition rises sufficiently for the coupled zone to be entered and eutectic growth to occur). For more details, see, for example, Acta Mater. vol. 40 (1992) p.1637-1644.
Contributor
Prof T W Clyne
Organisation
Department of Materials Science and Metallurgy, University of Cambridge
Date
25/10/01
Licence for re-use
Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International
Related micrographs