Macrosegregation in castings rotated and oscillated during solidification

Abstract

The macrosegregation present in stationary, rotated, and oscillated castings of Al-3 wt pct Ag was determined by measuring the distribution of radioactive silver added to the melt. Considerable scatter was observed in the measurements, the scatter being dependent on the sampling technique used. It was found that no significant macrosegregation was present in the stationary and rotated castings. Extensive macrosegregation was detected in the oscillated casting. For the oscillating case the macrosegregation can be accounted for on the basis of the long range movement of dendrite fragments which break and/or melt off in the solid-liquid interface region. This movement is a direct result of turbulent waves associated with the oscillation. The maximum silver concentration is shown to be related to the columnar-to-equiaxed transition.