Optical device dedicated to the non-destructive observation and characterization of the solidification of bulk transparent alloys in situ and in realtime
N. Noel et al., Optical device dedicated to the non-destructive observation and characterization of the solidification of bulk transparent alloys in situ and in realtime, MEAS SCI T, 11(1), 2000, pp. 66-73
An optical system has been developed to characterize transparent organic al
loys during their directional solidification in situ and in real time insid
e bulk samples with a high aspect ratio. Standard solidification experiment
s are performed within thin glass slides where solidification behaviour is
modified compared with bulk solidification due to the space constraint. On
the other hand, the interface can be easily observed via a microscope. For
bulk samples, a more complex system had to be implemented. We designed a sp
ecific glass observation cell and an adapted solidification furnace. Optica
l elements were integrated inside the glass observation cell containing the
solidifying alloy.
The resulting glass observation cell can be easily used as a tool for many
optical characterization methods. Here we use the system to generate live i
mages of the solid-liquid interlace. These images, recorded on video, provi
ded very interesting and fruitful information on the dynamic phenomena appe
aring at the interface. The whole interface as well as specific details of
the interface could be observed. The images showed a resolution of a few mi
crometres, suitable to characterize interface features, as well as a high c
ontrast and a constant magnification. As a consequence, further image proce
ssing to quantitatively characterize the solid-liquid interface could be ea
sily performed. A method to determine the average radius of curvature of a
cellular array was also implemented and is presented here.