Phase-field simulation of the solidified microstructure in a new commercial 6xxx aluminum alloy ingot supported by experimental measurements

This work attempts to quantitatively describe the microstructural evolution in a new commercial 6xxx aluminum alloy developed in an industrial laboratory (Al-0.87Si-0.81Mg-0.51Zn-0.46Cu-0.19Fe-0.09Mn, in wt.%), during solidification by using the phase-field simulation supported by experimental measurements. Coupling to the CALPHAD thermodynamic and atomic mobility databases is attained for providing energy and diffusivity information during the phase-field simulation. Two different resolutions are used in order to resolve the primary alpha-(Al) dendrite and the faceted beta-AlFeSi eutectic phase in the phase-field simulations. The phase-field simulated microstructure morphology is verified by experimental results. Moreover, the microsegregation and back-diffusion phenomena in the primary alpha-(Al) dendrite are also analyzed.