Directional cellular growth of Al-2 wt% Li bulk samples

Al-2 wt% Li alloy was prepared using metals of 99.99% high purity in the vacuum atmosphere. The bulk samples were directionally solidified upward with a constant growth rate, V, (similar to 8.30 mu m/s) and different temperature gradients, G, (3.11-6.06 K/mm) and also with a constant G (6.06 K/mm) and different V (8.3-164.70 mu m/s) in the directional solidification apparatus. The cellular spacings, lambda, were measured from both transverse and longitudinal section of the specimens and expressed as functions of solidification processing parameters, G and V, by using a linear regression analysis. The effects of the G and V on lambda, were investigated. The experimental results were compared with the current theoretical and numerical models, and similar previous experimental results.