Analysis of the influence of deformation in microstructure formation during solidification of Pb-2.5% Sb alloy

Abstract

In industrial casting operations, the possibility of implantation of a diversity of operational conditions has as consequence the generation of a wide range of solidification structures, affecting the mechanical properties and the quality of the final product. Due to the importance of the study of thin slabs solidification, for this work is used a system that allows the physical simulation of initial stages of continuous casting of thin slabs for laboratory experiments under several solidification conditions. Experiments were carried out using Pb-2.5% Sb alloy that presents low melting temperature and characteristic structure. For the Pb-2.5% Sb alloy thin slabs were obtained in cooled mold without reduction and with 10 and 20 mm reductions. It was found that the degree of deformation applied tends to increase the equiaxed region by the breakage of the dendrites as well as the possibility of the formation of equiaxed dendritic structures. It was observed that the deformation of this alloy directly influences the secondary dendrite spacing, tending to decrease it.