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A transition of dendrite growth kinetics from stable hcp to metastable fcc phases was observed for refractory Re95W5 alloy in an electrostatic levitation state, which attained a liquid undercooling up to 872 K (0.26TL). Stable hcp dendrite dominated in the single recalescence for pure Re in the whole of its undercooling regime, but prevailed for Re95W5 alloy only in the specific range of 159–867 K undercooling. The rapid dendrite growth velocity displayed a power-law relationship with the degree of undercooling. Once the refractory alloy melt was undercooled beyond 867 K undercooling, metastable fcc dendrite grew primarily from the liquid phase in the first recalescence, which was followed by a complete 'fcc to hcp' solid-state transformation in the second recalescence. An abrupt change of growth kinetics took place to depress the dendrite growth velocity drastically from 41.8 m·s−1 for stable hcp phase at 867 K undercooling to 10.9 m·s−1 for metastable fcc phase at 872 K undercooling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glass-forming Ni50Zr50intermetallic compound is containerless undercooled and solidified using electrostatic levitation. Large undercoolings up to ∆T = 300 K are achieved. The dendrite growth velocity of the congruently melting alloy is measured as a function of undercooling using a high-speed camera technique. The experimental data is analysed within a sharp interface theory. It is found that the driving force of crystallisation is controlling the growth kinetics at ∆T < 250 K but at larger undercoolings the growth kinetics is progressively controlled by atomic diffusion. This leads to a slowing down of the growth velocity. The maximum velocity and the temperature at which the maximum occurs (Tmax) are inferred from the dendrite growth velocity – undercooling relation. The relation of the temperatureTmaxand the glass temperature fits into a general classification scheme for glass-forming systems. The kinetic and thermal undercooling terms are calculated within dendrite growth theory as a function of the total undercooling. At ∆T > 126 K, the kinetic undercooling dominates and increases rapidly with the undercooling ∆T. The maximum prefactor of the kinetic undercooling is plotted vs. the reciprocal temperature. Its temperature dependence is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The nucleation undercoolings of non-magnetic metals like paramagnetic aluminium in high magnetic fields were measured by the differential thermal analysis technique. It was shown that the nucleation undercooling of pure aluminium increased with increasing the magnetic field, while its melting temperature was hardly changed. Based on the model of magnetic dipoles at the interface, it is proposed that the magnetic-field-induced interfacial energy mainly contributes to the increase in undercooling. The change in undercooling in the magnetic field is calculated theoretically, which is in comparison with experimental data. Additionally, the inhibition of atom diffusion in the magnetic field plays a role in the change of undercooling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The solid–liquid interface of metallic systems of small entropy of fusion is characterized by a rough interface and dendritic morphology. In contrast, systems of high entropy of fusion like semimetals and semiconductors show smooth interfaces and facetted interfaces. The present work demonstrates that, in an undercooled melt of a metal–metalloid alloy Ni2B of intermediate entropy of fusion, a transition from a rough to a smooth interface is induced by forced convection of the melt. Electrostatic levitation is used to container-less undercool droplets in a quiescent state with no convection while electromagnetic levitation (EML) is used to undercool droplets with forced convection. The growth velocity of the solid phase is monitored as a function of undercooling by a high-speed video camera. The data are analysed within dendrite growth theory. In the case of EML, a transition from a rough to a smooth interface is indicated during dendrite growth in the undercooled melt. This is confirmed by facetted microstructures of samples solidified upon undercooling by EML. Hopper-like crystals are formed like in non-metals as bismuth, halite and ice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The possibility of solder-spreading transitions in solidification of solder at a rough rigid intermetallic surface is proven theoretically. Depending on the misorientation of scallops on the interface, one can observe a two-dimensional spreading transition over the scallops or a one-dimensional spreading transition along the triple-junction of two intermetallic compound scallops and liquid solder. The extent of undercooling can be determined not only by different interface energies, but by different angles between neighbouring scallops as well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A structural model for surface-enhanced stabilization in some metallic glass formers is proposed. In this model, the alloy surface structure is represented by five-layer Kagomé-net-based lateral ordering. Such surface structure has intrinsic abilities to stabilize icosahedral-like short-range order in the bulk, acting as ‘a cloak of liquidity’. In particular, recent experimental observations of surface-induced lateral ordering and a very high glass forming ability of the liquid alloy Au49Ag5.5Pd2.3Cu26.9Si16.3can be united using this structural model. This model may be useful for the interpretation of surface structure of other liquid alloys with a high glass forming ability. In addition, it suggests the possibility of guiding the design of the surface coating of solid containers for the stabilization of undercooled liquids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The surface tensions of liquid ternary Ni–5%Cu–5%Fe, quaternary Ni–5%Cu–5%Fe–5%Sn and quinary Ni–5%Cu–5%Fe–5%Sn–5%Ge alloys were determined as a function of temperature by the electromagnetic levitation oscillating drop method. The maximum undercoolings obtained in the experiments are 272 (0.15T L), 349 (0.21T L) and 363 K (0.22T L), respectively. For all the three alloys, the surface tension decreases linearly with the rise of temperature. The surface tension values are 1.799, 1.546 and 1.357 N/m at their liquidus temperatures of 1719, 1644 and 1641 K. Their temperature coefficients are −4.972 × 10–4, −5.057 × 10−4 and −5.385 × 10−4 N/m/K. It is revealed that Sn and Ge are much more efficient than Cu and Fe in reducing the surface tension of Ni-based alloys. The addition of Sn can significantly enlarge the maximum undercooling at the same experimental condition. The viscosity of the three undercooled liquid alloys was also derived from the surface tension data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is usually difficult to undercool Ti-Al alloys on account of their high reactivity in the liquid state. This results in a serious scarcity of information on their thermophysical properties in the metastable state. Here, we report on the surface tension of a liquid Ti-Al alloy under high undercooling condition. By using the electromagnetic levitation technique, a maximum undercooling of 324 K (0.19 TL) was achieved for liquid Ti-51 at.% Al alloy. The surface tension of this alloy, which was determined over a broad temperature range 1429-2040 K, increases linearly with the enhancement of undercooling. The experimental value of the surface tension at the liquidus temperature of 1753 K is 1.094 N m-1 and its temperature coefficient is -1.422 × 10-4 N m-1 K-1. The viscosity, solute diffusion coefficient and Marangoni number of this liquid Ti-Al alloy are also derived from the measured surface tension. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dendrite growth within substantially undercooled liquid alloys is usually characterised by a very high growth velocity, even over 100 m/s. Here we report that dendrite growth becomes quite sluggish in a highly undercooled liquid Fe-8.5wt.%Sb alloy because it has a broad solidification temperature range of 412 K. The measured growth velocity of the dendritic α-Fe phase increases up to a maximum of only 1.38 m/s at 301 K undercooling. If this liquid alloy is undercooled further by 390 K (0.22TL), the dendrite growth velocity decreases gradually. A structural morphology transition from a coarse dendrite to an equiaxed grain takes place once undercooling exceeds 73 K. Energy dispersive spectroscopy analyses of the solute distribution reveal that solute trapping depends mainly on the actual dendrite growth velocity rather than the degree of undercooling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]