Application of a simple subregular solution model to the computation of phase boundaries and free dendritic growth in the Ag-Cu system

Abstract Adopting of a simple, but dependable analytic thermodynamic solution model in the simulation of phase transformation kinetics reduces the complexity of computation and the need for extensive thermodynamic data and hence is desired in the practical application of kinetic theories in materials processing. A simple subregular solution model with linear temperature dependency, which can calculate G curves with limited information extracted from an equilibrium phase diagram, is presented and applied to the calculation of (1) the binary Ag-Cu phase diagram with metastable phase boundaries and (2) the kinetics of free dendritic growth in supercooled Ag-Cu melts. The simple T- dependent subregular solution model can duplicate the published Ag-Cu phase diagram with the predicted metastable extensions to the same accuracy as that of calculations with highly structured models that require more computation and wider range of thermodynamic data. Its integration with a free dendritic growth model permits the calculation of correct values of the driving force at non-Henrian interfacial solute concentrations that occur in rapid solidification. The use of the simple T -dependent subregular solution model to calculate the interfacial driving force greatly improves the mathematical stability in the transition stage from mass transfer-limited growth to heat transfer-limited crystal growth.