Abstract: In order to investigate the response of cellular spacing to the variation of growth velocity under near-rapid directional solidification condition, Al-0.53wt%Zn alloy is directionally solidified with Bridgman apparatus. The results show that at the given temperature gradient the obtained microstrvctures are all cells and there exists a wide distribution range of cellular spacing. The maximum, λmax, minimum, λmin, and average cellular spacing, λ, as functions of growth rate, V, can be given by λmax=948.51V-0.4961, λmin= 661.16V-0.5015 and λ=412.41V-0.5049, respectively. The experimental results are compared with that predicted by KGT model, and a good agreement is found. Moreover,it is found that the average cellular spacing is also remarkably history-dependent.

Key words: Al-Zn alloy, near-rapid directional solidification, cellular spacing, history-dependence