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Directional solidification experiments on Cu-Sn peritectic alloys have been conducted at very low velocity in a high-thermal-gradient Bridgman furnace. The size of the samples has been reduced in order to decrease natural convection and the associated macrosegregation. At the lowest growth rates (0.5 and 0.58 lm s À1 ), eutectic-like a + b lamellar structures have been observed in near-peritectic composition alloys over several millimeters of growth. These structures resulted from a destabilization of a band structure in which a-and b-phases overlay each other. Electron backscattered diffraction measurements revealed that bands and lamellae of a solid phase are continuous and originate from a single nucleus.

Laser-cladding experiments have been performed with STELLITE 6 powder on mild steel substrates, using a 1.5 kW linearly polarized continuous wave CO 2 laser as a heat source. The clad height, the mass efficiency, the dimensions of the melt pool, as well as the global absorptivity, were measured as functions of the powder feed rate and the scanning speed. A quantitative analytical model of the process is proposed, based on the overall mass and energy balance. It allows the calculation of the mass efficiency and of the global absorptivity, taking into account the incorporation of the powder into the melt pool as well as the energy absorbed by the powder jet and the substrate. It successfully explains the experimental results and demonstrates the role played by the melt pool inclination with respect to the substrate. A processing diagram is given to find rapidly the optimal laser treatment conditions and the desired clad height. It is discussed with respect to the other limiting conditions of the process, the geometrical maximum powder efficiency, the porosity, the dilution, and the maximum power of the laser installation.

This article appeared in a journal published by Elsevier. The attached copy is furnished to the author for internal non-commercial research and education use, including for instruction at the authors institution and sharing with colleagues.Other uses, including reproduction and distribution, or selling or licensing copies, or posting to personal, institutional or third party websites are prohibited. AbstractDirectional solidification experiments on hypoperitectic Cu-Sn alloys have been performed at very low velocity in a high thermal gradient to ensure planar front growth of both phases. The diameter of the sample has been reduced to 500 lm to strongly reduce convection. Lamellar and fibrous peritectic cooperative growth of the primary a-and peritectic b-phases has been observed on length spanning several millimeters. For the first time in a high solidification interval peritectic alloy, a quenched interface of both phases in contact with the liquid has been obtained. An unexpectedly high volume fraction of the primary phase, which furthermore fluctuates over time, has been observed. This is attributed to the transient state of the (a + b) growth front to a steady state and the associated evolution of the large diffusion layer ahead of the solid-liquid interface.