On the phenomena of partial crystallization of highly undercooled magnesium silicate molten droplets.

The present work reports real-time observations of the phenomena of partial crystallization of one of the glass-forming materials, namely enstatite (MgSiO) from its supercooled liquid droplet. Initially, the molten droplet has been held under purely non-contact conditions using the aerodynamic levitation technique. The desired levels of undercooling have been achieved by deliberately making the levitated molten droplet touch a thin molybdenum wire and hence to initiate heterogeneous nucleation from the point of contact.

Progress on In Situ and Operando X-ray Imaging of Solidification Processes.

In this review, we present an overview of significant developments in the field of in situ and operando (ISO) X-ray imaging of solidification processes. The objective of this review is to emphasize the key challenges in developing and performing in situ X-ray imaging of solidification processes, as well as to highlight important contributions that have significantly advanced the understanding of various mechanisms pertaining to microstructural evolution, defects, and semi-solid deformation of metallic alloy systems. Likewise, some of the process modifications such as electromagnetic and ultra-sound melt treatments have also been described.

Experiments to understand crystallization of levitated high temperature silicate melt droplets under low vacuum conditions.

We report experiments on crystallization of highly undercooled forsterite melt droplets under atmospheric and sub-atmospheric pressure conditions. Experiments have been conducted under non-contact conditions using the principles of aero-dynamic levitation. Real time dynamics of solidification, along with the transient evolution of surface textures, have been recorded using high speed camera for three cooling rates.

Transgranular liquation cracking of grains in the semi-solid state.

Grain refinement via semi-solid deformation is desired to obtain superior mechanical properties of cast components. Using quantitative in situ synchrotron X-ray tomographic microscopy, we show an additional mechanism for the reduction of grain size, via liquation assisted transgranular cracking of semi-solid globular microstructures. Here we perform localized indentation of Al-15wt.