Microstructure and orientation evolution in unidirectional solidified Al–Zn alloys

Morphological instability and growth orientation evolution during unidirectional solidification of Al–Zn alloys with different pulling speeds were investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and electron back-scatter diffraction (EBSD) in scanning electron microscope (SEM). The experimental results show that, as the pulling speed increases, the primary dendrite spacing becomes smaller gradually and dendrite trunks incline to the heat flow direction perfectly in unidirectional solidified Al–9.8 wt%Zn and Al–89 wt%Zn alloys. However, regardless of the pulling speed in unidirectional solidified Al–Zn alloys under fixed thermal gradient, the regular dendrites with <100> directions of primary trunks and secondary arms in 9.8 wt% Zn composition are replaced by <110> dendrites of primary trunks and secondary arms in 89 wt% Zn composition. In unidirectional solidified Al–32 wt% Zn alloy, cellular, fractal seaweed, and stabilized seaweed structures were observed at high pulling speeds. At a high pulling speed of 1000 µm/s, seaweed structures transform to the columnar dendrites with <110> trunks and <100> arms. The above orientation evolution can be attributed to low anisotropy of solid-liquid interface energy and the seaweed structure is responsible for isotropy of {111} planes.