Formation and growth of solid particles in shear flow

Formation and growth of solid particles of Sn-15% Pb and Al-40% Zn were studied using a Couette type viscometer in isothermally and continuously cooled shear flows. Solid particles come mainly from broken dendrites in the initial stage of solidification. With increase of solid fraction, solids grow in an equiaxial and merging way in the flow of the partially solidified alloy. Mergence happens between two particles of small misorientation, and merging growth is performed by the growth of protruding parts on the solid-liquid interfaces of the solids.