Three-dimensional microstructure morphology of ZL102Al-Si alloy

A three-dimensional microstructure of ZL102 aluminum-silicon alloy was reconstructed using a continuous slicing and three-dimensional reconstruction technique. The results show that the primary silicon phase was polygonal shape with angular edges, featured by a facial growth. In a two-dimensional observation, usually the eutectic Si is irregularly acicular, dispersed in the alloy matrix. However, the three-dimensional eutectic Si is lamellar, and connected to the primary Si. This indicates that the eutectic Si in a solidification growth does not need additional nucleation The microstructure morphology of ZL102 Al-Si alloy obtained in this study not only can reflect the real microstructure of alloy, but also put certain insight in the solidification mechanisms of the alloy.