Microstructural development in rapidly solidified silicon-rich alloys

Morphological properties and solidification characteristics of some Si-rich alloys containing various amounts of Al, Cu, V, Co and Ti have been invest igated. The alloys were produced by vacuum induction melting and subsequent casting in a copper mould. Rapid solidification of the alloys was performe d by induction and are melt spinning processes. A characteristic morphologi cal spacing was measured by the intercept method. The spacing has been comp ared to calculate values of the secondary dendrite arm spacing. The content of Si seemed to be an important governing parameter in the calculations. A n expression for the relationship between the morphological spacing and the cooling rate of Si-rich alloys has been suggested. (C) 2001 Published by E lsevier Science B.V.