Liquid-liquid structure transition in metallic melt and its impact on solidification: A review

Understanding the nature of liquid structures and properties has always been a hot field in condensed matter physics and metallic materials science. The liquid is not homogeneous and the local structures inside change discontinuously with temperature, pressure, etc. The liquid will experience liquid-liquid structure transition under a certain condition. Liquid-liquid structure transition widely exists in many metals and alloys and plays an important role in the final microstructure and the properties of the solid alloys. This work provides a comprehensive review on this unique structure transition in the metallic liquid together with the recent progress of its impact on the following microstructure and properties after solidification. These effects are discussed by integrating them into different experimental results and theoretical considerations. The application of liquid-liquid structure transition as a strategy to tailor the properties of metals and alloys is proven to be practical and efficient.