Melting and solidification of a metal system in a rectangular cavity

The role of natural convection on solid-liquid interface motion during melting and solidification of Lipowitz metal in a rectangular cavity was studied. The measurements of both temperature distributions and temperature fluctuations were used as a qualitative indication of the natural convection flow regimes and structures of melt during phase transformation. The measured and predicted solid-liquid interface positions during solidification from below and above, as well as melting from above and below, show reasonably good correspondence. The suppression of natural convection in the Lipowitz metal, which is not taken into account in the model, leads to a slower rate of melting and a higher rate of freezing than that predicted.