Unidirectional solidification of a Zn-rich Zn-2.17 wt%Cu hypo-peritectic alloy

Unidirectional solidification of a Zn-rich Zn-2.17 wt%Cu hypo-peritectic alloy has been carried out to investigate the microstructure evolution over the growth velocity range 0.02-4.82 mm/s at a temperature gradient of 15 K/mm by means of the Bridgman technique. Regular and plate-like two-phase cellular structures were observed in samples grown at growth velocities V above 0.48 and 2.64 mm/s, respectively. The dominant microstructure in samples grown below 0.22 mm/s was dendrites of primary ε in a matrix of secondary η. Intercellular spacing Λ decreased with increasing growth velocity V such that ΛV^1/2 is a constant of 316 ± 55 μm^3/2/s^1/2. Secondary dendrite arm spacing λ₂ of primary ε decreased with increasing V such that λ₂V^1/3 is a constant of 14.9 ± 0.9 μm^4/3/s^1/3. The observed transition from regular cells to plate-like cells of η is discussed on the basis of competitive growth and crystallographic effect.