Application of synchrotron X-ray radiography to the study of dendritic equiaxed microstructure formation in Al–Cu alloys

The phenomena involved during equiaxed growth, which is the most common growth morphology in metal casting, are dynamic. Therefore, in situ investigation is necessary to fully analyse the microstructure formation. Synchrotron X-ray radiography has become a major tool for in situ characterization of solidification in metallic systems. This paper reports on dedicated equiaxed solidification experiments carried out at the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF) in Grenoble-France on Al–10 wt.% Cu alloy. The analysis is based on the recorded images obtained through absorption radiography. Equiaxed growth is achieved in nearly isothermal conditions and observed continuously in real time from the early stages of solidification to the final state. The evolution of the dendrite arm lengths and the corresponding growth rates are analysed for two couples of grains in relation with their environment. This analysis suggests that the solutal interaction is dominant between equiaxed grains.