Effect of solidification rates on the microstructure morphology of the Cu-Cr alloy

The Cu-1.0wt%Cr alloy was prepared by the high temperature gradient directional solidification equipment. The microstructure and its evolution of directionally solidified Cu-Cr alloy were investigated under the condition of different solidification rates, by use of optical microscope and SEM. The results show that the microstructures of the directionally solidified Cu-1.0wt%Cr alloy consist of primary α phase and (α+β) eutectics, which are even each other and regular along the directional orientation. The microstructure morphology undergos a series of change from cystiform, thick dendrite to thin dendrite with the increase of solidification rates.