Solid–liquid interfacial energy of the eutectoid β phase in the Al–Zn eutectic system

The equilibrated grain boundary groove shapes for the solid β phase in Al–Zn liquid solutions were observed on quenched samples. From the observed grain boundary groove shapes, the Gibbs–Thomson coefficient for solid β (Al–84 wt.% Zn) in Al–Zn liquid solutions has been determined to be (3.41±0.14)×10−8 Km with a numerical method. The solid–liquid interfacial energy between solid β and Al–Zn liquid solution has been obtained to be (106.94±9.62)×10−3 J m−2 from the Gibbs–Thomson equation. The grain boundary energy for the same material has been calculated to be (204.72±22.52)×10−3 J m−2 from the observed grain boundary groove shapes. The thermal conductivities of the solid and liquid phases for Al–95 wt.% Zn and Al–84 wt.% Zn systems have also been measured.