The computer-aided cooling curve analysis (CA-CCA) was employed to investigate the solidification behavior of Al-Ce-Mg-xCe (x= 0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, and 3.0 wt. %) alloys. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDXS), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) techniques were used, along with the liquidus projection of ternary Al-Cu-Mg and Al-Cu-Ce phase diagrams, to evaluate the microstructure and predict the sequence of main reactions involved in the solidification of alloys. Ce-rich compounds Al9Ce2Cu5Si3, Al8CeCu4, Al24Cu8Ce3Mn, and Al4Ce were predicted to be formed in the microstructure of Ce-added alloys. The formation temperature (range) and reactions during which the Ce-rich compounds are formed were also suggested. The effect of Ce on solidification characteristics of alloys such as the nucleation temperature of α-Al, the solidus temperature, the solidification range, total solidification time, and the eutectic nucleation and growth temperatures was also determined via the first derivative curve.
