In Situ X-Ray Radiography and Tomography Observations of the Solidification of Alumina Particles Suspensions. Part I: Initial Instants

This paper investigates the behaviour of colloidal suspensions of alumina particles during directional solidification, by in situ high-resolution observations using X-ray radiography and tomography. This second part is focussed on the evolution of ice crystals during steady state growth (in terms of interface velocity) and on the particles redistribution taking place in this regime. In particular, it is shown that diffusion cannot determine the concentration profile and the particles redistribution in this regime of interface velocities (20-40 microns/s); constitutional supercooling arguments cannot be invoked to interpret particles redistribution. Particles are redistributed by a direct interaction with the moving solidification interface. Several parameters controlling the particles redistribution were identified, namely the interface velocity, the particle size, the shape of the ice crystals and the orientation relationships between the crystals and the temperature gradient.