Aluminium alloys form many important structural components, and the addition of
alloying elements contributes to the improvement of properties and characteristics. The objective
of this work is to study the influence of thermal variables on the microstructure, present phases,
microhardness, dynamic modulus of elasticity, and damping frequency in unidirectional solidification
experiments, which were performed in situ during the manufacturing of Al–0.8 Nb and Al–1.2 Nb
(wt.%) alloys. Experimental laws for the primary ( 1) and secondary ( 2) dendritic spacings for
each alloy were given as a function of thermal variables. For Al–0.8%wt Nb, 1 = 600.1(˙T)1.85 and
2 = 186.1(VL)3.62; and for Al–1.2%wt Nb, 1 = 133.6(˙T)1.85 and 2 = 55.6(VL)3.62. Moreover,
experimental growth laws that correlate the dendritic spacings are proposed. An increase in dendritic
spacing influences the solidification kinetics observed, indicating that metal/mold interface distance
or an increase in Nb content lowers the liquidus isotherm velocity (VL) and the cooling rate (˙T). There
is also a small increase in the microhardness, dynamic modulus of elasticity, and damping frequency
in relation to the composition of the alloy and the microstructure
