About the Scheil Calculator
The Scheil Calculator Allows You to Calculate:
Three Models for Scheil Solidification Simulations
Thermo-Calc includes three models for Scheil Solidification Simulations.
The Classic Scheil simulation is based on the well-known Scheil-Gulliver model and assumes zero diffusion in the solidified material.
A second model is available where one or more elements can be defined as “fast diffusers.”
Our third and most advanced model uses diffusion data to calculate Back Diffusion in the Primary Phase.
A Scheil Solidification Simulation of the Aluminium Alloy AA7075 comparing a Classic Scheil Simulation with two Scheil with Back Diffusion simulations and to experimental data.
Classic Scheil Model
The most well-known example of a non-equilibrium calculation is the Scheil-Gulliver solidification simulation, or Scheil simulation for short. This is the model used for our Classic Scheil simulations.
Classic Scheil Simulations Assume:
- Diffusion of all elements in the liquid phase is infinitely fast
- Diffusion of all elements in the solid phases is zero
- The liquid/solid interface is in thermodynamic equilibrium
This calculation procedure is equivalent to assuming that there is no diffusion in the solid phase and infinitely fast diffusion of all elements in the liquid phase. It has been shown to be a good approximation of the solidification of most alloys such as Ni-superalloys, Cu alloys, Al alloys, Mg alloys, and others. However, it does not work well for steels. For this reason, a variant of the Scheil simulation was developed and implemented in Thermo-Calc where one or more elements can be defined as “fast diffusers”.
Classic Scheil Solidification Simulation of Aluminium Alloy 4043 compared to equilibrium.
Scheil with Fast Diffusers
Scheil with Fast Diffusers is a variant of the Classic Scheil simulation that was developed mainly for steel applications.
Scheil Simulation with Fast Diffusers Assume:
- Diffusion of all elements in the liquid phase is infinitely fast
- Diffusion of all elements in the solid phases except the ones defined as “fast diffusers” is zero
- Diffusion of the elements defined as “fast diffusers” is infinitely fast in the solid phase
- The liquid/solid interface is in thermodynamic equilibrium
Carbon is one of the most important alloying elements in steels. It dissolves interstitially and, as a result, has very fast diffusion rates. The assumption of no diffusion in the solid phase during solidification is thus not correct for carbon at most industrial or lab-scale solidification rates. Scheil with Fast Diffusers allows one or more elements to be defined as “fast diffusers,” correcting for the problems addressed above. Typically, C is defined as a fast diffuser, but also other elements such as N, O, or others can be defined.
A Scheil Solidification Simulation for a steel with Fe0.8%Mn0.7%Si0.03%P0.4%C comparing a classic Scheil Simulation (blue line) to Scheil with Fast Diffusers (green line) and equilibrium (dotted line). As the plot shows, Scheil with Fast Diffusers is closer to equilibrium as the solidification progresses.
Scheil with Back Diffusion
Our most advanced Scheil model uses diffusion data from a mobility database to calculate back diffusion in the primary phase.
Scheil with Back Diffusion Assumes:
- Diffusion of all elements in the liquid phase is infinitely fast
- Diffusion of all elements in the primary solid phase is quantitatively calculated using mobility data, a cooling rate, and a domain size (typically this will be the secondary arm spacing)
- The liquid/solid interface is in thermodynamic equilibrium
As with the Scheil-Gulliver model, this model assumes infinitely fast diffusion in the liquid material, but it allows for limited diffusion in the primary phase of the solid material. Using diffusion data from a mobility database, it quantitatively takes into account the real back diffusion of all elements in the primary solid phase (typically the FCC or BCC phase). This model also allows setting selected components to be “fast diffusers,” and these are treated as if there is infinite diffusivity in the solid phases.
Scheil with back diffusion requires the use of a mobility database as it is using diffusion data to complete the calculation.
A Scheil Solidification Simulation with Back Diffusion of an Al-Cu-Si alloy comparing a cooling rate of 10 K/s (left line) to a cooling rate of 0.005 K/S (right line). As the plot shows, the lower cooling rate is closer to equilibrium as the solidification progresses.
Learn More about Scheil Solidification Simulations
Microsegregation During Solidification
