Electrochemical Phase Formation of Metals and Alloys at Chemically Identical Solid or Liquid Cathode: Part 1. Metals

Abstract

The existence of the phenomenon of electrochemical phase formation in metals and alloys via a supercooled liquid state stage is discussed. In dealing with that subject in terms of emergence and ultrarapid solidification of a deeply supercooled metallic liquid represented by a multitude of liquid atomic clusters, an idea was put forth that an identity of the state of aggregation between the cathode and the electrodepositing metal/alloy at the cathode???deposit interface must facilitate phase transformations at the interface. It was assumed that replacing a solid cathode with a chemically identical liquid one would lead to a wider spectrum of intermetallics formed due to interactions of the electrodepositing metal with elements of the liquid metallic cathode. Precision X-ray phase characterization was performed for the interface between the electrodepositing metal and a cathode of Wood???s alloy that persisted in either a solid or a liquid condition through the electrodeposition process. Relying on the data obtained, it was concluded that the phenomenon in point is proved by the formation enhancement of intermetallic compounds involving metallic cathode elements and the electrodepositing metal plus evolvement of additional intermetallics enriched in cathode elements, on replacing a solid cathode with a chemically identical liquid one.