DEVELOPMENT OF SURFACE TEXTURE IN AS CAST LEAD-TIN AND OTHER ALLOYS

The formation of highly textured surfaces sometimes develops when thin as cast metal sheets solidify, and reasons for the formation of this distinctive texture are discussed. Experiments were carried out which indicate that the mechanism governing the texture formation is owing t o Benard convection cells developing in the melt before solidification . The range of powders that might be carried by convection currents is investigated, and the possibility is suggested that the Benard mechan ism could be used to perpendicularly reinforce thin light alloy sheets .