Slow cooling favors uniformly in all the directions of growth and gives equiaxed crystals i.e.

the crystals with equal dimensions in all the directions, whereas rapid cooling favors tree like crystals, called dendrites. The exact shape of crystal depends on the condition that exist during solidification. Typical cast metal shows fine-grained structure at the surface and equiaxed structure in the centre with columnar grains perpendicular to the cooling surface in between the two.

Considerable amount of heat energy is evolved in direction of crystal growth, causing the temperature of the adjacent liquid to rise. This temperature may exceed the freezing temperature of a metal, so that further growth of the crystal in this direction will be stopped. In a perpendicular direction, the liquid region will have a lower temperature since there has been no crystallization and consequently no heat evolution. The crystal will grow in this direction.

Definition: Diagram that shows equilibrium temperature-concentration relationships for different phases of a system. Types of Phase Diagrams: Isomorphous System Eutectic System Partial Eutectic System

These diagrams are obtained for two metals having complete solubility in the liquid state as well as solid state. E.g. Cu-Ni, Au-Ag, Au-Cu, MoW, Mo-V, etc.

SOLIDUS The line which depicts the variation of average composition of solid phase in any two phase region. LIQUIDUS - The line which depicts the variation of average composition of liquid phase in any two phase region.

In two phase region: At temperature T, Amount of Solid = LO/LS Amount of Liquid = OS/LS

Definition Variation in composition is observed from point to point or centre to surface of a grain or dendrite in a solidified alloy at room temperature. This microsegregation is called coring. Defects Brittleness, Non-uniform mechanical and physical properties, Corrosion. Remedies Slow Cooling, Homogenization heat treatment.

These diagrams are obtained for two metals having complete solubility in the liquid state and complete insolubility in the solid state. Typical Reaction L S1 + S2 The point at which the liquid transforms completely to mixture of two components at constant temperature is known as eutectic Corresponding temperature and point. eutectic concentration are known as temperature and eutectic concentration.

These diagrams are obtained for two metals which have complete miscibility in the liquid state and partial solubility in the solid state. SOLVUS These lines indicate the variation of solubility of one into another which decreases as the system approaches room temperature.

EUTECTIC REACTION:

S1 + S2

EUTECTOID REACTION:

S1 + S2

PERITECTIC REACTION:

L + S1

S2