Solidification of
Castings
Topics to be covered
Introduction to solidification
Concept of solidification on casting
Solidification of pure metals
Solidification of alloys
Nucleation
Growth
Introduction to Solidification
If a pure metal cools rapidly or even otherwise when it is very pure and does not
contain impurity at all as nucleus to start crystallization, it may cool as per
Nucleation of solid does not start at point B (i.e., normal solidification
temperature) but it does so at B, i.e., after the liquid metal has supercooled by
an amount t. This phenomenon is known as Supercooling or Undercooling.
Besides pure metals, supercooling may occur in alloys also e.g. grey cast iron.
Solidification of Alloys
Alloyed metals possess:
Higher tensile strengths
Better high temperature strengths
Better corrosion resistance
Improved machinability and workability
Lower melting points
Improved castability
Main types of alloys:
Solid solution alloys
Eutectic alloys
Peritectic alloys
The above curve shows the cooling curve of a binary-solid solution alloy
From A to B, the alloy is in liquid state
Solidification starts at B and completes at point C.
Unlike pure metals, solidification occurs throughout the temperature
range(i.e., from Tb to Tc).
Latent heat of fusion is liberated gradually from B to C and it tends to
increase the time required for the solidification
Phase Diagram