Abstract: The interaction of particles with a solid-liquid interface during solidification of metal matrix composites has been investigated theoretically in this paper.Owing to the presence of particles in the melt,the shape of the solidification front and solute concentration field in front of solidification interface have been disturbed The thermodynamic method was employed,and a mathematical expression of the shape of the solidification interface and solute concentration field were deduced.Meanwhile,a theory is developed for evaluation of critical velocities of particles pushed by the solidification interface.A numerical simulation is done in which the critical velocity is evaluated as a function of particle size,thermal conductivity,diffusion coefficient,temperature gradient at the solidification front,the solid-liquid interfacial energy and the melt viscosity.The critical velocity is shown to be closely linked to the shape of the solidification interface and solute concentration field, and hence all the parameters also affect the shape of the solidification interface and solute concentration field of the front.

Key words: metal matrix composite, solid-liquid interface, interaction, solidification