Effect of the accelerated crucible rotation technique on dendritic growth morphology

Accelerated crucible rotation technique (ACRT) was applied to solidification of the succinonitrile (SCN)-ethanol compound to reveal the evolution of non-faceted cells and dendrites in situ. The primary arm spacings of cells and dendrites decrease under the effect of melt convection by rotating the crucible with varying speed, whereas under intensive melt convection, the growth front becomes planar. At higher accelerations (Reynolds number of about 500), the morphological features of the growing dendrites change substantially. The dendrite primary arm spacings increase, and the dendrites fracture due to severe melt convection.