Time resolved x-ray imaging of dendritic growth in binary alloys

Direct beam x-ray imaging, with intense coherent monochromatic synchrotron radiation and a fast readout low noise detector has been used for ill situ studies of cellular and dendritic solidification of Sn-Pb alloys. Temporal and spatial resolutions down to similar to 0.7 s and similar to 2.5 mu m, respectively, with a field of view up to I mm(2) were obtained. The collected images display features from both phase and amplitude contrast which, combined with the attainable temporal resolution, provide a method with the potential to uncover dynamic processes in nonequilibrium solidification.