In-situ 3D investigation by fast X-Ray microtomography of the microstructural changes occurring during partial remelting of Al-Cu alloys

The evolution of the microstructure of semi-solid Al-Cu alloys has been characterized during isothermal treatments in the semi-solid state by using in-situ X-ray microtomography experiments carried out at ESRF, Grenoble. This work is therefore a continuation of previous experiments reported at the 8th S2P Conference in Limassol. Quantitative data are presented dealing with changes with holding time of the solid volume fraction, of the solid-liquid interface area and of the mean and Gaussian curvatures of the solid phase. Discussion of the results is carried out on the basis of the mechanisms involved in semi-solid systems