X-ray imaging of metal solidification
EMMS are pleased to announce their next technical event for 2023. The hybrid lecture, on 16 May, will be delivered by Dr Enzio Liotti, from the Department of Materials at the University of Oxford and will explore 'X-ray imaging of metal solidification'.
X-ray imaging techniques using synchrotron sources have emerged as a powerful tool to study the dynamics of crystal growth and are increasingly used to investigate solidification phenomena in technologically important materials such as steel, Ni and Al alloys. Three examples of how synchrotron X-ray radiography can be used to study the dynamic of solidification and advance our scientific understanding of the underlaying phenomena taking place during the liquid to solid transformation will be explored in this presentation.
The first case study is about the influence of Pulsed Electro-Magnetic Fields (PEMF) on the stability of dendritic grains in Al-Cu alloys. The fragmentation rate and spatio-temporal distribution of the fragments in the mushy zone were measured under a wide range of solidification conditions and the data analysed and used to develop a comprehensive fragmentation qualitative model. In the second case study, the results of a large investigation on the wave nature of nucleation of equiaxed aluminium grains and intermetallic compounds when solidifying under a thermal gradient in aluminium alloys will be presented. Machine learning was employed to automatically count the crystals forming and extract quantified information of many solidification parameters. The study, which could have not been carried out without automatic analysis due to the very large amount of data, comprised more than 100 experiments. The resulting thousands of grain formation and growth rate measurements represent the largest data set of this type. Key insights from the results, such as effect of cooling rate on grain formation, as well as the machine learning approach, will be described.
In the final case study the results of a series of experiments aimed at investigating fluid flow effects on mass transport and formation of defects within the mushy zone will be described.
The event will be held in Room S.2.031 in the Department of Materials at Loughborough University, LE11 3TU. This is building S on the campus maps at maps.lboro.ac.uk. If travelling by car, enter the University at the West Park entrance (the one nearest the M1 off Ashby Road) and inform security that you are attending an East Midlands Materials Society event. You will receive a permit for the multi-storey car park (Car Park 1).
All are welcome to attend in person or virtually, but please register using the link at the top right of this page.
Light refreshments will be available from 18:00 for those attending in person and the lecture will be followed by the EMMS AGM.
IOM3 Training Academy runs a range of courses for qualifications and professional development
IOM3 Events runs a range of webinars, conferences, meetings and seminars for knowledge transfer