This article focuses on the intermediate length scales, where transport phenomena govern the spatial and temporal evolution of a structure. It presents the cellular automaton (CA) and phase field (PF) methods that represent the state of the art for modeling macrostructure and microstructure. The article describes the principles of the PF method and provides information on the applications of the PF method. The CA model is introduced as a computationally efficient method to predict grain structures in castings using the mesoscopic scale of individual grains. The article discusses the coupling of the CA to macroscopic calculation of heat, flow, and mass transfers in castings and applications to realistic casting conditions.

Metal transparency and interaction with X-rays have been recognized as obvious candidate principles from which methods for in situ monitoring of solidification processes could be developed. This article describes the use of X-ray imaging-based techniques to investigate interface morphology evolution, solute transport, and various process phenomena at spatiotemporal resolutions. It discusses the three viable imaging techniques made available by synchrotron radiation for the real-time investigation of solidification microstructures in alloys. These include two-dimensional X-ray topography, two-dimensional X-ray radiography, and ultra-fast three-dimensional X-ray tomography.

Alloy phase diagrams are useful for the development, fabrication, design and control of heat treatment procedures that will produce the required mechanical, physical, and chemical properties of new alloys. They are also useful in solving problems that arise in their performance in commercial applications, thus improving product predictability. This article describes different equilibrium phase diagrams (unary, binary, and ternary) and microstructures, description terms, and general principles of reading alloy phase diagrams. Further, the article discusses plotting schemes; areas in a phase diagram; and the position and shapes of the points, lines, surfaces, and intersections, which are controlled by thermodynamic principles and properties of all phases that comprise the system. It also illustrates the application of the stated principles with suitable phase diagrams.

This article summarizes the general features of microstructure evolution during the thermomechanical processing (TMP) of nickel-base superalloys and the challenges posed by the modeling of such phenomena. It describes the fundamentals and implementations of various modeling methodologies. These include JMAK (Avrami) models, topological models, and mesoscale physics-based models.

This article explores the potential of through-process simulations of the development of microstructure, texture, and resulting properties during the thermomechanical processing of Al-Mn-Mg alloys, starting from the as-cast ingot to final-gage sheet. It provides an introduction of the thermomechanical production of aluminum sheet and, in particular, highlights the main effects governing the evolution of microstructure and texture. The simulation tools used to model the evolution of microchemistry, microstructure, and texture upon deformation and recrystallization of aluminum alloys are described. The article discusses the recrystallization behavior of alloy AA 3104 during the interstand times in between two consecutive hot rolling passes with the help of combined microstructure models.

This article discusses the fundamental aspects of phase-field microstructure modeling. It describes the evolution of microstructure modeling, including nucleation, growth, and coarsening. The article reviews two approaches used in the modeling nucleation of microstructure: the Langevin force approach and explicit nucleation algorithm. Calculation of activation energy and critical nucleus configuration is discussed. The article presents the deterministic phase-field kinetic equations for modeling growth and coarsening of microstructure. It also describes the material-specific model inputs, chemical free energy and kinetic coefficients, for phase-field microstructure modeling. The article provides four examples that illustrate some aspects of phase-field modeling.

Nonplanar microstructures form most frequently during the solidification of alloys, and they play a crucial role in governing the properties of the solidified material. This article emphasizes the basic ideas, characteristic lengths, and the processing conditions required to control the columnar and equiaxed microstructures. The formation of cellular and dendritic structures in one- and two-phase structures is presented with emphasis on the effect of processing conditions and composition on the selection of microstructure and microstructure scales.

Homogenization, in a broad sense, refers to processes designed to achieve uniform distribution of solutes or phases in a given matrix. This article addresses the root cause for inhomogeneities in cast components. It is nearly standard industrial practice to homogenize alloys before thermomechanical processing. The article lists objectives of homogenization and benefits of homogenization treatments. The benefits include increased resistance to pitting corrosion, increased resistance to stress-corrosion cracking, improved ductility, and uniform precipitate distribution during subsequent aging. The article provides a schematic illustration of energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscope (EDS) scattered data of solute distributions across a dendrite due to microsegregation of chromium and molybdenum. It concludes with a section on computational modeling for simulation of microsegregation of chromium and molybdenum.

Gravity has profound influences on most solidification and crystal growth processes. Modification of gravity over practical time scales for the purposes of modifying or controlling solidification proves to be a far more daunting and expensive technological challenge. This article discusses various microgravity solidification experiments that involve pure metals, alloys, and semiconductors and presents the official NASA acronyms for them. The experiments include MEPHISTO, TEMPUS, isothermal dendritic growth experiment, and advanced gradient heating facility.

This article is an atlas of fractographs that covers nickel-base superalloys. The fractographs display the following: hydrogen-embrittlement fracture; segment of a fractured second-stage gas-turbine wheel; gas-producer turbine rotor cast; dendritic stress-rupture fracture surface; fatigue and creep fractures; simultaneous metallographic-fractographic evaluation; and effect of thermal cycling on fatigue fracture.

In order to model macrosegregation, one must consider convection and the partitioning of the segregating elements at the dendritic length scale. This article describes microsegregation with diffusion in the solid. It presents a continuum model of macrosegregation and illustrates the simulation of macrosegregation and microsegregation.

Solidification is a comprehensive process of transformation of the melt of metals and alloys into a solid piece, involving formation of dendrites, segregation which involves change in composition, zone formation in final structure of the casting, and microporosity formation during shrinkage. This article describes the imperfections in the solidification process including porosity, inclusions, oxide films, secondary phases, hot tears, and metal penetration. It talks about the purpose of the gating system and the risering system in the casting process.

The systematic study of microstructural evolution during deformation under hot working conditions is important in controlling processing variables to achieve dimensional accuracy. This article explains the microstructural features that need to be modeled and provides an outline of the principles and achievements of each of the various microstructural models, including black-box modeling, gray-box modeling, white-box modeling, and hybrid modeling.

The reflected light microscope is the most commonly used tool to study the microstructure of metals, composites, ceramics, minerals, and polymers. For the study of the microstructure of metals and alloys, light microscopy is employed in the reflected-light mode using either bright-field illumination, dark-field illumination, polarized light illumination, or differential interference contract, generally by the Nomarski technique. This article concentrates on how to reveal microstructure properly to enable the proper identification of the phases and constituents and, if needed, measuring the amount, size, and spacing of constituents, using the light optical microscope. The discussion covers the examination of microstructures using different illumination methods and includes a comparison between light optical images and scanning electron microscopy images of microstructure.

Rapid solidification is a tool for modifying the microstructure of alloys that are obtained by ordinary casting. This article describes the fundamentals of the four microstructural changes, namely, microsegregation, identity of the primary phase, identity of the secondary phase, and formation of noncrystalline phases. It considers three factors: heat flow, thermodynamic constraints/conditions at the liquid-solid interfaces, and diffusional kinetics/microsegregation, to understand the fundamentals of these changes. These factors are described in detail.

This article reviews some concepts considered important for an understanding of processes used for preparing cobalt-chromium alloy implants, the microstructures resulting from this processing, and the resulting material properties. The review includes the solidification of alloys, diffusionless (martensitic) phase transformation as occurs with face-centered cubic to hexagonal close-packed transformation in cobalt-chromium alloys, stacking faults and twins and their role in this transformation. It also includes strengthening mechanisms that are responsible for the mechanical properties of cast and wrought cobalt alloys. The article contains tables that list the commonly used cobalt alloys and their biomedical applications and chemical compositions. It discusses the mechanical and corrosion properties of cobalt alloys, and provides a description of the microstructure of cobalt alloys.

Integrated computational materials engineering refers to the use of computer simulations that integrate mathematical models of complex metallurgical processes with computer models used in component and process design. This article outlines an example of a computer-aided engineering tool, such as virtual aluminum castings (VAC), developed and implemented for quickly developing durable cast aluminum power train components. It describes the procedures for the model development of the VAC system. These procedures include linking the manufacturing process to microstructure, linking microstructures to mechanical properties, linking material properties to performance prediction, and model validation and integration into the engineering process. The article discusses the benefits of the VAC system in process selection, process optimization, and improving the component design criteria.

The term cast iron designates a group of materials that contain more than one constituent in their microstructure due to excess carbon that result in unique characteristics such as the fracture appearance and graphite morphology. This article discusses the classification of cast iron and the various metallurgical aspects, such as composition, alloying element, solidification, and graphite morphologies, of different types of cast iron. It describes the physical properties for various cast irons and the influence of microstructure and chemical composition on each property. The article provides a detailed account on thermal properties, conductive properties, magnetic properties, and acoustic properties of cast iron. It also discusses heat treatment, namely, stress relieving, annealing, normalizing, through hardening, and surface hardening. The article presents a discussion on the welding, machining and grinding, and coating of the types of cast iron.

Modeling of structure formation in casting of alloys involves several length scales, ranging from the atomic level to macroscopic scale. Intermediate length scales are used to define the microstructure of the growing phases and the grain structure. This article discusses the principles and applications of phase field method and cellular automaton method for modeling the direct evolution of structure at the intermediate length scales, where transport phenomena govern the spatial and temporal evolution of the structure that involves nucleation and growth.

Semisolid metal (SSM) processing is a special die casting process, where partially solidified metal slurry is injected into a die cavity to form die cast components. This article discusses the flow behavior of SSM slurry with emphasis on viscosity, rheological behavior, and yield strength. It illustrates microstructural formation of semisolids, under forced convection. The article concludes with an illustration that compares two SSM processes, namely, thixocasting and rheocasting.