Thermodynamics and kinetics in liquid immiscible Cu–Cr–Si ternary system

This work firstly focuses on the thermodynamic and kinetic studies of the liquid phase separation in the Cu–Cr–Si ternary system. On the thermodynamic aspect, four isothermal sections of the Cu–Cr–Si system at 900 °C, 1000 °C, 1100 °C and 1200 °C have been experimentally determined by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and electron probe microanalyzer (EPMA) on the equilibrated alloys, and the phase equilibria in the Cu–Cr–Si ternary system has been thermodynamically assessed by using the CALPHAD (Calculation of Phase Diagrams) technique on the basis of the presently obtained experimental results. The addition of Si can stabilize the metastable liquid phase separation in the Cu–Cr binary system, and increase its critical temperature. On the kinetic aspect, the formation of top–bottom and core–shell separated morphologies of the as-cast liquid immiscible Cu–Cr–Si alloys under various cooling rates have been detailedly analyzed.