The experimental determination of thermophysical properties of intermetallic CuAl2 phase in equilibrium with (Al plus Cu plus Si) liquid

Abstract

The equilibrated grain boundary groove shapes of solid CuAl2 in equilibrium with (Al + Cu + Si) eutectic liquid were observed from a quenched sample by using a radial heat flow apparatus. The Gibbs-Thomson coefficient, (solid + liquid) interfacial energy and grain boundary energy of the solid CuAl2 were determined from these observed shapes. The thermal conductivity of the eutectic solid and the thermal conductivity ratio of eutectic liquid to the eutectic solid in the (Al + 26.82 wt.% Cu + 5.27 wt.% Si) eutectic alloy at its eutectic melting temperature were also measured with a radial heat flow apparatus and a Bridgman-type growth apparatus, respectively. The three phases of (Al + Cu + Si) alloy have detected as Al solution, Si and theta (CuAl2) phases with EDX composition analysis and the microstructure of these phases were photographed by SEM. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.