Abstract
D.C. four-probe method was used to investigate the temperature dependence of electrical resistivity of Sn–50wt%Sb melt. Anomalous changes observed on resistivity–temperature curves (ρ–T) suggest that temperature induced liquid–liquid structure transition (L-LST) might occur in Sn–50wt%Sb melt at hundreds of degrees above its liquidus, and the transition is reversible after the first heating cycle. An isothermal experiment based on ρ–T curve was conducted to further probe the effect of the L-LST on solidification morphologies. Results show that the size of the primary phase decreases and that the microstructure becomes finer when solidified from the melt experienced the irreversible L-LST.
Acknowledgements
This project was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (grant no. 50571033) and by the Natural Science Foundation of Anhui Province (grant nos. 070416234 and 070414178).