The aim of this research is to investigate the influence of solidification thermal parameters on the macrostructure of an Al-7wt%Si alloy during the horizontal directional solidification under unsteady-state heat flow conditions and its correlation with cutting temperatures. The solidification experiments were instrumented by thermocouples and an experimental approach was developed to quantitatively determine the solidification thermal parameters considered. The observation of the macrostructures has indicated that the columnar-to-equiaxed transition occurred in a sharp plane parallel to the chill wall and a higher average cutting temperature was obtained for the columnar structure.

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Concentrator solar cells have been proposed as an interesting way of reducing the cost of photovoltaic electricity. However, in order to compete with conventional solar modules it is necessary not only to reduce costs but also to evaluate and increase the present reliability. Concentrator solar cells work at higher temperature, solar radiation and current stress than conventional solar cells and a carefully reliability analysis is needed. In this paper a reliability analysis procedure, that is being developed, is presented.