Application of synchrotron X-ray imaging to the study of Ni-base alloy solidification

A major issue during turbine blade production is the formation of defects such as stray grains, freckles, and segregated areas that are linked to the development of convective flows during the solidification step. The aim of the proposed experiments is to study the impact of thermo-solutal convection on the dendritic microstructure formation and the subsequent development of strain in the dendritic network during metallic alloy solidification. The originality of the experiments consists in visualizing in situ the directional solidification of Ni-base alloys with a unique high-temperature furnace allowing the concomitant use of synchrotron radiography and diffraction maging.