采用落管方法对Fe60.4Sn29.6Si10三元偏晶合金进行了微重力条件下的无容器快速凝固实验.实验所得合金液滴的典型凝固组织呈现“枝晶”和“海藻”两种生长形貌.分析发现液滴中大量出现的“海藻”生长形貌是合金熔体凝固前沿发生尖端分裂的结果,这种特殊形貌的产生主要受过冷度、表面张力各向异性参数等因素的控制和影响.“尖端分裂”生长方式是晶粒细化的一种原因,而“海藻”生长形貌是枝晶碎断、重熔的结果.
Rapid solidification experiment of Fe60.4Sn29.6Si10 monotectic alloy was made in 3- meter high drop tube. Tip-splitting structures of the phase FeSn is observed in the solidification microstructures of the alloy, which resulted in the " seaweed morphology ". The main control parameters of the " seaweed " mophology are undercooling, and anisotropy parameter of surface tension. Analyses indicate that the instability of solid-liquid interface aroused by deep undercooling may cause a morphological transition of phase FeSn from characterized dendrite growth to tip-splitting growth. It has also been found that dendrite breaking has close relationship with tip-splitting structures, which may be the substantial reason for spontaneous grain refinement. Basic patterns of morphology are dendrites and seaweed. The building block of the dendrite structure is a element with parabolic tip, and the basic element of the seaweed structure is multi-dendritic side arm. The transition between these structures shows a jump in the growth velocity.