Rapid Solidification for Metal Ribbons

Randall S. Filippone, Electrical Engineering Technology, Liam Hulsebosch, Physics, Jacob Casey, PhysicsFaculty Mentor(s): Professor Arjun Pathak, Physics Rapid solidification is a technique to prepare materials with unique microstructure for desire functionality. This technique involves shooting a stream of molten material onto a spinning copper wheel where it solidifies quickly to form a ribbon of metal. In the typical melt-spinning process, about 5 to 10 g of the alloy is placed inside a quartz or sometimes boron nitride crucible depending on the materials melting temperature, and then the crucible is inserted into the circular induction coil. The current with several amps will apply to the coil, which provides enough heat to the sample, and eventually, it melts. To maximize the melting process, samples temperature should rise several degrees above the melting temperature of the alloy of which ribbons to be prepared. When the temperature reaches the desired point, usually above 100 to 150 degrees C above the melting point, molten metallic liquid eject by Air-pressurization through a fine nozzle of quartz/or boron nitride onto a fast rotating copper wheel, which usually rotates at 3000 rpm (in our equipment). Such high speed offers rapid solidification rates several thousand degrees centigrade per second to freeze the atoms of the liquid phase. We are currently installing melt spinner equipment at the physics department and planning to get ready to synthesize metallic samples in near future. Here we present the installation process of the melt spinner, optimization, and importance of this technique for material science research.https://digitalcommons.buffalostate.edu/srcc-sp21-physgeosci/1003/thumbnail.jp