Microstructure and grain orientation evolution of a specially shaped shroud during directional solidification process

The microstructure and the grain orientations of one shroud prepared by directional solidification process have been investigated using metallographic method and electronic backscatter diffraction (EBSD). The results indicate that the solidification process of the tested shroud is composed of three steps: dendritic branching, the break-up and drift of the dendrite arms and the solidification of the residual liquid. Misoriented grains were formed between the primarily solidified dendrite stems during the process of recalescence which was caused by the accumulation of the solidification latent heat. A low angle grain boundary of 6° was produced across the impinging dendrite fronts.