5th International Conference on Advances in Solidification Processes (ICASP-5) 5th International Symposium on Cutting Edge of Computer Simulation of Solidification, Casting and Refining (CSSCR-5)

Our comprehensive understanding of binary eutectic solidification is largely due to years of extensive studies of many metallic and non-metallic systems. Recently, there has been increasing effort to understand ternary eutectic solidification due to the potential for refinement of microstructure resulting from increased number of co-existing crystalline phases during the solidification of multicomponent alloy systems. So far, our understanding of quaternary eutectic solidification is very limited. Recent research work at BCAST has revealed the existence of nanostructured anomalous eutectic regions within intercellular colonies of the lamellar eutectic mixture found in suction cast Al-28%Cu-6%Si-2.2%Mg (wt%) quaternary eutectic alloy, characterised by a combination of EDX, high resolution SEM and TEM techniques. This contribution presents detailed studies of the microstructure and chemistry of the cellular colonies of lamellar eutectic and nanostructured anomalous eutectic regions in the as-cast Al-28%Cu-6%Si-2.2%Mg (wt%) alloy, together with a description of the quaternary eutectic solidification behaviour in the Al-Cu-Si-Mg multicomponent alloy system.