The reheating-cooling method: A technique for measuring mechanical properties in the nonequilibrium mushy zones of alloys

The mushy zone of an alloy is in nonequilibrium during solidification. The mechanical properties of alloys in this nonequilibrium mushy zone, especially at small liquid fractions, are closely related to the formation of hot tears during the solidification of castings. It is difficult to measure the mechanical properties in the nonequilibrium mushy zones of alloys at a small liquid fraction, as the liquid fraction decreases rapidly during heating and during the isothermal hold needed to measure mechanical properties, due to backdiffusion in the solid. This article describes a new experimental method for determining mechanical properties in the nonequilibrium mushy zones of alloys. Initial results indicate that the method is better than traditional methods in capturing the brittle nature of alloys at temperatures close to the nonequilibrium solidus temperature.