Equilibrium structural transitions of solid-liquid interfaces in zinc based alloys

Abstract

The equilibrium roughening transition of basal planes of solid zinc in contact with its molten alloys with Bi, In. Pb and Sn has been studied by analyzing the shape of small liquid droplets inside solid zinc grains. We found that this transition exists in all the systems studied: for Zn-In and Zn-Sn alloys, this transition takes place well below the melting point of zinc, while for Zn-Bi and Zn-Pb the roughening temperature is located exactly at the monotectic temperature. These results are discussed by using a simple, solid-fluid, zeroth-order monolayer model.