Patent ID: 6695936
Filing Date: 2004-02-24
Classification: B22D

Abstract:
A method of identifying the lowest melting eutectic composition of an alloy having â€œnâ€  phases, where n&gE;2, the method comprising:providing an arbitrary starting alloy; heating the alloy until it is substantially molten; subjecting the molten alloy to a large inertial force for a period of time while maintaining its temperature above the alloy's melting point; lowering the temperature of the alloy below the melting point while subjecting the alloy to a large inertial force, thereby causing nucleation and growth of a first solid phase within surrounding liquid, the first solid phase being subjected to the inertial force such that the first solid phase moves upward or downward within the surrounding liquid by sedimentation; further lowering the temperature of the alloy while subjecting the alloy to said inertial force, thereby causing further nucleation and growth of additional solid phases, the additional solid phases being subjected to the inertial force such that the additional solid phases move upward or downward within the surrounding liquid by sedimentation, wherein the temperature is further lowered until the alloy is substantially completely solidified; and identifying the last solid phase to solidify, the last solid phase being stratified in a layer between earlier solidified solid layers, the last solid phase having the lowest melting eutectic composition.