Microstructure refinement and hardening of Ag-20 wt.%Cu alloy by rapid solidification

Ag-20 wt.%Cu (wt%) hypoeutectic alloy has been rapidly solidified by means of planar flow casting technique. Two fcc solid solutions have been identified by X-ray diffraction. Microstructures have been observed by electron microscopy. A refinement of the eutectic microstructure, as well as of the Ag-rich primary phase, has been observed for high quenching rates, leading to a hardness value up to 235 Vickers. The lattice parameter and phase fraction of the Ag-rich solid solution increase as a function of quenching rates (i.e. wheel speed). The solidification processes occurring during rapid quenching have been described on the basis of thermodynamic and kinetic arguments. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.