Thermo-physical and Physical Properties for Use in Solidification Modelling of Multi-component Alloys

The thermo-physical and physical properties of the liquid and solid phases are critical components in casting simulations. Such properties include the fraction solid transformed, enthalpy release, thermal conductivity, volume and density, all as a function of temperature. Due to the difficulty in experimentally determining such properties at solidification temperatures, little information exists for multi-component alloys. As part of the development of a new computer programme for modelling of materials properties, JMatPro, extensive work has been carried out on the development of sound, physically based models for these properties. Wide-ranging results have previously been presented for Fe, Ni, Ti, Al and Mg-based alloys. The purpose of the present paper is to look at how changes in composition can substantially affect properties of multi-component alloys during solidification and further demonstrate how properties of the liquid can substantially vary in the mushy zone.