Aspects of the liquid-tin assisted directional solidification process that have the greatest impact on cooling conditions at the solidification front have been investigated. Thermal conditions within the mushy zone of the casting and outside the mold in the tin bath were characterized experimentally as a function of casting parameters. Macroscopic casting defects were identified and microstructural analysis was performed, including measurement of primary and secondary dendrite arm spacings (PDAS and SDAS). Process parameters that most strongly influenced casting quality included withdrawal rate, superheat, and degree of insulation on top of the coolant bath. Control of the position of the solidification front relative to the coolant bath was essential for production of defect free castings.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.