Abstract: The effects of solute elements during solidification on the grain size are very important and can be quantified by the growth-restriction parameter Q, and Q possesses the better correlation with the grain size. Based on the constitutional undercooling generated by the growth of an adjacent grain during the initial solidification, the growth-restriction parameter Q is deduced and a comprehensive physical basis of Q is obtained by using an initial solute distributing equation. For the alloys with more potent nucleants, Q is a suitable predictor of the grain size. For less potent nucleants, the relative grain size(RGS) is a more accurate prediction of the grain size. This prediction coincides with the experimental behaviors for Al-Ti and Al-Cu alloys with lower solute content.

Key words: growth restriction; constitutional undercooling; solidification; aluminium alloys