Solidification Morphology and Bifurcation Predictions with the Maximum Entropy Production Rate Model

Solidification Morphology and Bifurcation Predictions with the Maximum Entropy Production Rate Model

Yaw Delali Bensah and J. A. Sekhar

Abstract

The use of the principle of maximum entropy generation per unit volume is a new approach in materials science that has implications for understanding the morphological evolution during solid–liquid interface growth, including bifurcations with or without diffuseness. A review based on a pre-publication arXiv preprint is first presented. A detailed comparison with experimental observations indicates that the Maximum Entropy Production Rate-density model (MEPR) can correctly predict bifurcations for dilute alloys during solidification. The model predicts a critical diffuseness of the interface at which a plane-front or any other form of diffuse interface will become unstable. A further confidence test for the model is offered in this article by comparing the predicted liquid diffusion coefficients to those obtained experimentally. A comparison of the experimentally determined solute diffusion constant in dilute binary Pb–Sn alloys with those predicted by the various solidification instability models (1953–2011) is additionally discussed. A good predictability is noted for the MEPR model when the interface diffuseness is small. In comparison, the more traditional interface break-down models have low predictiveness. View Full-Text

Keywords: maximum entropy production rate; MEPR; planar morphology; cellular morphology; morphological bifurcations at solid–liquid interface; growth velocity; temperature gradients; coefficient of diffusion at high temperatures

Full Paper can be downloaded at: https://www.mdpi.com/1099-4300/22/1/40

This article belongs to the Special Issue Optimized Entropic Pathways

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