X-ray diffraction experiments on In30Sn70 from normal liquid to solidus

X-ray diffraction experiment has been carried out on In30Sn70 binary alloy from normal liquid 400 degrees C to the temperature near the solidus 125 degrees C (T-l and T-m is about 172 and 120 degrees C, respectively). The results show that the correlation radius r(c), the correlation length D and the atom numbers N-c have an abrupt increase near the liquidus with the temperature decreasing. Which indicates an abrupt structure change in the nucleus forming process. This result is different from our recent study on Cu80Ag20 alloy, which show a stable structure change around the liquidus. In addition, the coordination number N-min, comparing with the viscosity measurement indicates a temperature and component induced discontinuous structural change region between about 165 and 145 degrees C. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V All rights reserved.