On the ability of producing copper–silver functionally graded alloys by using an incremental melting and solidification process

An incremental melting and solidification process (IMSP) has been used in order to obtain components with controlled gradient in chemical composition along one direction of the piece. The composition variation was externally induced by a sequential addition of different materials. To better assess the process of the chemical composition gradation the tests were performed in castings with and without externally induced chemical composition variation. The level of macro-segregation was also assessed in the different experiments. Results demonstrated that a substantial gradual variation of chemical composition and metallurgical properties, along the component, may be obtained.