Effect of interface energy anisotropy on the dendritic growth in directional solidification

The dendritic growth patterns in directional solidification with different amplitudes of solid-liquid interface energy anisotropy were investigated using the two-dimensional cellular automata (CA) model. It is shown that when the preferred growth direction of the crystal was the same as the direction of thermal gradient, the solidification pattern would transform from seaweed to dendrite with the increase of amplitude of interface energy anisotropy. The amplitude of interface energy anisotropy could also influence the morphology of dendritic tips. As the amplitude of interface energy anisotropy increased, the dendritic tip radius, the liquid concentration ahead of the tip and the tip undercooling decreased. A power law relationship evisted between the stability parameter of dendritic tip and the amplitude of interface energy anisotropy in directional solidification. The primary arm spacing changed little with the increase of interface energy anisotropy. When the angle between the preferred growth direction of the crystals and the direction of thermal gradient was -40°, and the amplitude of interface energy anisotropy increased, the solidification pattern would transform from seaweed to degenerated dendrite and finally to tilted dendrite.