HW4-1
During the solidification process, a metal goes from a hot liquid to a cool solid via a process of
nucleation and crystal growth. The initial nuclei present in the hot liquid metal are the basis for crystal
growth in the pattern of dendrites and grains. These dendrites and grains grow outward from a nucleus
and make up the structure of the cooled metal. When these dendrites and grains are near a surface, the
shapes influence the topology of the material. Larger grain structures could end up giving a material a
rough surface finish. The finish is also influenced by the machining processes applied to the material.