Fourier thermal analysis of the solidification kinetics in A356/SiCp cast composites

The aim of this work was to explore the effect of the presence of SiCp on the solidification kinetics and the microstructural characteristics of A356/SiCp cast composites by using the Fourier thermal analysis (FTA) method. The tests were performed in order to identify changes in the solidification kinetics of the metal matrix that could be caused by the presence of particle reinforcement. FTA results were complemented with information provided by microstructural characterisation. The outcome of this work suggests that the presence of SiCp affect the solidification kinetics of both the primary dendritic phase and the eutectic microconstituent. These effects are apparently due to two main causes: (1) the decrease of the latent heat released during solidification associated to the presence of SiCp and (2) the change in the growth kinetics and morphology of the eutectic present in the metal matrix alloy produced by the nucleation of eutectic Si on SiCp.