Investigation on the phase separation in undercooled Cu-Fe melts

On the basis of the gravity difference and the temperature dependence of the interfacial energy of the separated phases, the amalgamation of the droplets of minor phase was affected by Stokes sedimentation and Marangoni motion during the liquid-phase separation. Moreover, the velocity of Stokes motion increased distinctly with the undercooling, while the velocity of Marangoni motion was slightly impacted. At the beginning of the liquid-phase separation, the droplets of minor phase were dominated by Marangoni motion when the droplets radius was small. As the droplets radius increased by combination, the effect of Stokes sedimentation strengthened gradually. Additionally, the coagulation process was mainly controlled by Stokes sedimentation when a critical radius r(d) was far exceeded. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.