Investigation of directional solidified Al–Ti alloy

Al–1 wt% Ti alloy was directionally solidified upwards under argon atmosphere under the two conditions; with different temperature gradients (G = 2.20–5.82 K/mm) at a constant growth rate (V = 8.30 lm/s) and with different growth rates (V = 8.30–498.60 lm/s) at a constant temperature gradient (G = 5.82 K/mm) in a Bridgman furnace. The dependence of characteristic microstructure parameters such as primary dendrite arm spacing (k1), secondary dendrite arm spacing (k2), dendrite tip radius (R) and mushy zone depth (d) on the velocity of crystal growth and the temperature gradient were determined by using a linear regression analysis. A detailed analysis of microstructure development with models of dendritic solidification and with previous similar experimental works on dendritic growth for binary alloys were also made.