Effect of Solidification Rate and Rare Earth Metal Addition on the Microstructural Characteristics and Porosity Formation in A356 Alloy

Figure 1

(a) Setup showing the graphite mold used for carrying out thermal analysis

(b) (L) Variable angle metallic mold (dimensions are in mm) and (R) obtained castings; the white blocks indicate the sampling positions almost halfway along the casting height

(c) (L) Step-like metallic mold (dimensions are in mm) and (R) the obtained casting

(d) Setup showing the variable angle mold used for carrying out thermal analysis

(e) Intercept method used to measure the secondary dendrite arm spacing