Grain refinement mechanism of rapidly solidified nickel alloys

Abstract

The solidification microstructure evolution of Ni-25 at.% Cu alloys under different undercooling degrees were studied by the cladding method and cyclic superheating method. Two grain refinement phenomena were observed in the obtained undercooling. In the low undercooling condition, dendrite remelting is the main reason for grain refinement in the recalescence process, while in the high undercooling condition, the stress accumulated in the recalescence process leads to recrystallization in the later stage of recalescence. Under the condition of high undercooling, the solidification structure is composed of complete equiaxed grains with relatively uniform grain size, which indicates that grain boundary migration occurs during grain growth.