Effect of liquid-liquid transition on solidification of Bi-Sb10 wt% alloy

In our previous study, the electrical resistivities of liquid Bi-Sb alloys were measured by DC 4-probe method in a wide temperature range. Their anomalous change with temperature indicated the existence of temperature-induced liquid liquid transition (LLT) in liquid Bi-Sb alloys. Based on the results of LLT, corresponding solidification experiments have been carried out on the Bi-Sb10 alloy, i.e., the Bi-Sb10 alloys are melted and held at the temperature above and below the LLT respectively, and then cooled from the same temperature. The results of solidifying experiments show that LLT has a significant effect on the solidification behavior and microstructure. The general rule is that the under-cooling degree increases, the solidification microstructure becomes finer, and the obvious change of microstructure morphologies takes place when solidifying from the liquid-experienced LLT.