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3D Prediction of Microstructure Formation During Solidification of Mg-RE Alloy Processed by Laser Surface Remelting

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Abstract

Microstructure formation is predicted during solidification of Mg–4Y–3Nd–0.5Zr (wt.%) alloy processed by laser surface remelting (LSR). A three-dimensional (3D) multiscale model is developed, which couples a thermal-fluid model to describe the molten-pool dynamics at macro-scale with a sharp interface model to describe nucleation and dendrite growth at micro-scale. A derived formula of interfacial weighted mean curvature incorporated with surface energy anisotropy realizes the simulation of eighteen-branch α-Mg dendrite growth. Microsegregation of Y, Nd and Zr elements is simulated through a solutal equilibrium approach. The simulated results show that the α-Mg matrix is depletion of Y and Nd elements and enrichment of Zr. Rapid solidification in LSR induces the α-Mg phase to solidify as an equiaxed structure without apparent dendritic branching. Under a fast cooling condition, the cooling-rate-induced thermal undercooling dominates the heterogeneous nucleation. Continuous nucleation manner is favored, with many nuclei activated. The simulated molten-pool depth, microstructure, and segregation pattern are shown to be in qualitative agreement with experimental results. The developed 3D multiscale model can contribute to a comprehensive prediction of microstructure and microsegregation formations of Mg-RE alloys during LSR and help optimize the actual LSR process.

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Acknowledgements

Dong-Rong Liu acknowledges the support by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 51971086).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Materials Science and Chemical Engineering, Harbin University of Science and Technology, No. 4 Lin Yuan Road, Harbin, 150040, China

    Shaofan Wang, Dong-Rong Liu & Lei Wang

  2. Chongqing Institute of Green and Intelligent Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 266 Fang Zheng Road, Chongqing, 400714, China

    Tian Chen

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Wang, S., Liu, DR., Wang, L. et al. 3D Prediction of Microstructure Formation During Solidification of Mg-RE Alloy Processed by Laser Surface Remelting. Inter Metalcast 18, 1329–1347 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40962-023-01124-4

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