Research of {0001} crystal orientation for magnesium alloys solidified in a fashion of cellular crystals

The magnesium alloy grew in a fashion of cellular crystals during the process of unidirectional solidification, and the {0001} crystal face orientation in the cast ingot of the magnesium alloy was studied. The theoretical model and methodology were set up, and a corresponding experiment was carried out to verify the theoretical analysis results. The experimental results indicate that the {0001} crystal face of magnesium crystals parallels to the width direction for the thin-plate cast ingot when the magnesium grows in a manner of cellular crystals. The separation angle between the {0001} crystal face of magnesium crystals and the vertical axis line of the cast ingot is about 62° for the circular column cast ingot, which distributes in cone-type. The theoretical analysis results are basically in agreement with the experimental ones of previous literatures and this paper.