Evolution of the Inner Liquid–Solid Interface During Metal Freezing

The influence of the inner interface initiation method on the interface shape (formation of the planar interface or the interface with the dendrites growing into the liquid metal) was studied both theoretically and experimentally. The results of numerical simulation of the process of heat removal from the metal, corresponding to different initiation methods, revealed the existence of different species of the inner interface. The interface modification during freezing arises from the inequality of temperature gradients on opposite sides of the interface, i.e., from imbalance of heat fluxes on the interphase boundary (Stefan problem). For indium point, the results of numerical simulation were confirmed experimentally.