Unidirectional solidification of aluminum-indium monotectic alloys by Ohno Continuous Casting

The vertical Ohno Continuous Casting (OCC) process was used to examine the possibility of casting Al-In monotectic alloys with a homogeneous microstructure. Three compositions, Al-17.3 mass%In, Al-20mass%In, and Al-25 mass%In were used in this study. Al-In alloy ingots with a diameter of 8 mm and a length of 400 rum could be continuously cast by controlling the temperature and solidification velocity of the melt regardless of the alloy compositions. The Al-In alloy ingots had a very beautiful surface and a unidirectional macrostructure. Furthermore, the Al-In alloys exhibited a good distribution of P-In particles throughout all sections without any segregation of beta-In phase.