Evolution of microstructure in rapidly solidified alloys

The evolution of microstructure in rapidly solidified alloys is an extremely complicated process and is a function of many variables. The rnicrostructural evolution can be viewed from many different angles. For example, one may consider the nature anti stability of interface leading to homogeneous, cellular or dendritic morphologies. The problem can be understood and correlated with the conventional solidification modes by determining the extent of solute partitioning that occurs at the interface. The microstructure can also be correlated to the degree of undercooling attained in the process. Ail these apparently different aspects can also be synthesised to yield a unified picture of microstructural evolution(1). The present paper is a review of some of these attempts.