In situ study of nucleation and growth of the irregular α-Al/β-Al5FeSi eutectic by 3-D synchrotron X-ray microtomography

In order to better understand the formation of β-Al5FeSi intermetallic plates during solidification of Al–Si casting alloys, an Al–8% Si–4% Cu–0.8% Fe alloy has been studied by in situ microtomography using high-energy X-rays in the synchrotron. After formation of the aluminium dendrites, the β phase forms as an irregular eutectic together with eutectic α-Al. Only four plates were nucleated in the sample, and all nucleated in the very early stage of the eutectic reaction and subsequently developed into complex connected three-dimensional plates. The plates display very rapid lateral growth and slow thickening, which, together with the observation of imprints of dendrites and ridges in the plates, suggest a very weakly coupled eutectic.