New approaches to understand modification and nucleation mechanisms of hypoeutectic Al-Si alloys

Recently we have developed methods to enable the application of state-of-the-art analysis techniques for the determination of modification mechanisms, nucleation and growth during solidification in non-facet/facet hypoeutecic alloys. This work aims to use this unique method to develop grain refiners while keeping eutectic modification for use in the casting industry. The application focuses on the development of eutectic grain refiners for modified hypoeutectic aluminium-silicon alloys, which will result in major material property and processing improvements. New experimental approaches are μ-XRF(X-ray fluorescence) in Synchrotron radiation, EBSD (electron back-scattering diffraction) in SEM and FIB (focusing ion beam) in TEM.