Abstract
In the past 50 years, there has been increasing interest - both theoretically and experimentally - in the problem of pattern formation of a moving boundary, such as a solidification front. One example of pattern formation is that of irregular eutectic solidification, in which the solid-liquid interface is non-isothermal and the interphase spacing varies in ways that are poorly understood. Here, we identify the growth mode of irregular eutectics, using reconstructions from four-dimensional (that is, time and space resolved) X-ray microtomography. Our results show that the eutectic growth process can be markedly different from that seen in previously used model systems and theories based on the ex situ analysis of microstructure. In light of our experimental findings, we present a coherent growth model of irregular eutectic solidification.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Article number | 12953 |
| Journal | Nature communications |
| Volume | 7 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Sep 27 2016 |
Funding
This work was supported by the Multidisciplinary University Research Initiative (MURI) under award AFOSR FA9550-12-1-0458. Additional support was provided for A.J.S. by NSF Graduate Research Fellowship under grant no. DGE-1324585. The sample preparation and data acquisition were supported by the DOE under contract no. DE-FG02-99ER45782. We thank J. Sundwall and T. Bui from the Northwestern University instrument shop for machining the Al-Ge samples and the B-N crucibles. We are also grateful for helpful discussions with K.A. Mohan, E.B. Gulsoy and S.O. Poulsen. This research utilized the Quest high-performance computing facility, which is jointly supported by the Office of the Provost, the Office for Research and Northwestern University Information Technology.
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- General Chemistry
- General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
- General Physics and Astronomy