A computational/directional solidification method to establish saddle points on the Mg–Al–Ca liquidus

We established two saddle point maxima, L + α(Mg) + C14 and L + α(Mg) + C36, on the monovariant liquidus, calculated from a previously presented thermodynamic description, by characterizing the microstructures of several directionally solidified alloys in the near-solidification front zone, the mushy zone, and the steady-state zone using optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy.