Phase-field simulation for the evolution of solid/liquid interface front in directional solidification process

In this study, the phase field method was used to study the multi-controlling factors of dendrite growth in directional solidification. The effects of temperature gradient, propelling velocity, thermal disturbance and growth orientation angle on the growth morphology of the dendritic growth in the solid/liquid interface were discussed. It is found that the redistribution of solute leads to multilevel cavity and multilevel fusion to form multistage solute segregation, and the increase of temperature gradient and propelling velocity can accelerate the dendrite growth of directional solidification, and also make the second dendrites more developed, which reduces the primary distance and the solute segregation. When the temperature gradient is large, the solid-liquid interface will move forward in a flat interface mode, and the thermal disturbance does not affect the steady state behavior of the directionally solidified dendrite tip. It only promotes the generation and growth of the second dendrites and forms the asymmetric dendrite. Meanwhile, it is found that the inclined dendrite is at a disadvantage in the competitive growth compared to the normal dendrite, and generally it will disappear. When the inclination angle is large, the initial primary dendrite may be eliminated by its secondary or third dendrite. (C) 2019 Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of The editorial office of Journal of Materials Science & Technology.