Measurement of anisotropy of crystal-melt interfacial energy for a binary Al–Cu alloy Original Research Article

The anisotropy of solid–liquid interfacial energy for an Al–4.0 wt% Cu alloy is determined through measurement of equilibrium shape. Measurements are performed using a fine dispersion of liquid particles entrained within a single-crystal single-phase solid. Specimens are sectioned normal to the 〈1 0 0〉 direction in the continuous phase, and the droplets are observed to exhibit four-fold symmetry on this plane. The radial variation on this plane is measured using optical and chemical techniques, and the normalized anisotropy parameter is determined to be 0.98%. Equilibrium conditions are validated, and quench effects are investigated using microchemical analysis techniques.