Solidification can take place at many stages of the materials life cycle, impacting the material properties of a given component. For example, segregation can dictate heat treatment schedules. Non-equilibrium behavior can cause undesirable phases to form. Solidification cracking can occur depending on alloy chemistry and process parameters. The ability to accurately predict the solidification path, temperature range, and other thermophysical properties is critical not only for materials design but also for day-to-day process variation. Many models exist to predict both equilibrium and non-equilibrium solidification behaviour using CALPHAD-based tools. Model selection depends on the alloy chemistry and process parameters surrounding a given solidification process. For example, the rapid solidification of laser based fusion processes can necessitate the use of solute trapping models. The slower cooling of casting can require backdiffusion calculations. This presentation will outline the various CALPHAD-based solidification models, and discuss when each should be applied using industry focused case studies.
Speaker: Adam Hope, Thermo-Calc Software
