Casting and solidification
With few exceptions, manufacturing of products containing modern construction and functional materials involves solidification processing at some stage.
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Examples are casting of aluminium and advanced crystallisation processing of semi-conductors for computers and solar-cells. SINTEF has key competence in solidification and casting using a combination of experimental techniques and mathematical modelling. SINTEF has, in particular, a recognised competence in developing mathematical models to describe the various physical phenomena occurring during solidification and the formation of associated defects in industrial processes, and in implementing these models for process optimization. SINTEF carries out research in internationally recognised teams on several related topics: |
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| Microporosity in AlSiCu-alloy situated in dendritic structure, imaged in 3D using syncrotron x-ray microtomography. |
Aluminium alloy microstructure and thermodynamics
Aluminium melt quality and porosity formation
In-situ synchrotron X-ray imaging of solidification
Hot tearing and macrosegregation formation
Mushy zone behaviour; rheology, and permeability
Mould filling in casting and moulding
Silicon crystallisation in solar cell production
Modelling and simulation of casting processes
Applications of this core competence
• Modelling of hot tearing formation in aluminium casting.
• Reducing defects and wafer breakage from directionally solidified multicrystalline-silicon.
Open projects:
• NorLight Shaped Castings of Light Metals
• NADIA
SINTEF’s Contact persons: Marisa Di Sabatino, Freddy Syvertsen