Melt Texturing Research Articles

Laser beam shaping facilitates tailoring the mechanical properties of IN718 during powder bed fusion

One of the recent technological developments in the Laser Powder Bed Fusion (LPBF) process is the use of non-Gaussian beam profiles of power density distributions. Irrespective of the strategies used to change the beam profile, spatial beam shaping enhances process flexibility since it allows manipulation of the thermal field, the melt pool shape, and the microstructure. This work showcases the impact of novel ring and conventional Gaussian beams on density, melt pool characteristics, and mechanical properties of IN718 superalloy via LPBF. A novel laser source with beam shaping capabilities provided the beam profiles, ranging from Gaussian to ring beams. The results show clear differences between the crystalline patterns obtained with Gaussian and the other ring beams attempted. This study elucidates the impact of melting modes and solidification mechanisms on the texture index, arising from the interplay between laser beam shape modes and laser speed. It also shows how the crystalline configuration associated with each case studied influences the mechanical properties and how it is possible to modify the process parameters and the beam shape mode to extend control over the mechanical properties of the components manufactured using LPBF. This leads to a broader range of mechanical properties and grain size when tailoring the power density distribution towards ring beams. Additionally, the correlation between melt pool shape geometry, texture index, and mechanical properties is discussed, and the limitations and advantages of each mode are defined.

Geometrical and crystal plasticity modelling: Towards the establishment of a process-structure-property relationship for additively manufactured 316L struts

This paper presents a methodology to establish a process structure property (PSP) relationship for the additive manufacturing (AM) of thin AISI 316L struts, as might be used in coronary stent applications. The methodology is based on a new geometrically based process-structure method for AM process variables, and crystal plasticity finite element (CPFE) modelling that includes the representation of melt pool microstructure morphology and texture. The effects of AM process variables are characterised with respect to ductility, yield strength and UTS across a range of process variables, including hatch spacing, layer thickness and build orientation (two orientations are considered: horizontal and vertical). The CPFE-predicted effect of build orientation is shown to be consistent with experimental test results. The present methodology has allowed identification of optimal hatch spacing and layer thickness for a given laser spot size, power and scanning speed. CPFE modelling of AM melt pool texture is shown to be key to successful prediction of the effects of process variables on mechanical behaviour.

Extreme seismic anisotropy indicates shallow accumulation of magmatic sills beneath Yellowstone caldera

Understanding the distribution and mobility of crystal mushes within modern magmatic systems is crucial to volcanic hazard assessments as distinct pockets of mobile magma may become interconnected and lead to melt accumulation on shorter time scales than magma that is broadly distributed in a homogeneous mush. Here, we reveal that Yellowstone's upper-crustal magma reservoir in the top 20 km is heterogeneous in both melt concentration and texture. We exploit ambient noise in an unprecedented dense temporary seismic network to jointly constrain vertically- and horizontally-polarized shear wave speeds to create enhanced 3D isotropic and anisotropic shear velocity models. Our models show an exceptionally low-velocity (>20% reduction) layer 4–7 km beneath the surface, situated near the top of the reservoir previously-imaged by earthquake P-wave tomography. The presence of strong radial anisotropy (20%) within this layer indicates the uppermost portion of the modern Yellowstone reservoir is organized as a sill complex, with up to 28% of melt fraction in horizontally-elongated volumes at depths where rhyolite was commonly stored before past eruptions. The findings demonstrate that high-resolution anisotropic imaging through a dense seismic network can constrain both magma distribution and reservoir texture, which are important to understand the evolution and hazard assessment of volcanic systems like Yellowstone.

The Performance of the Two-Seeded GdBCO Superconductor Bulk with the Buffer by the Modified TSMG Method.

The multiseeding technique is a method to grow large-sized REBa2Cu3O7-δ (REBCO, where RE is a rare earth element) high temperature superconducting bulks. However, due to the existence of grain boundaries between seed crystals, the superconducting properties of bulks are not always better than those of single grain bulks. In order to improve the superconducting properties caused by grain boundaries, we introduced buffer layers with a diameter of 6 mm in the growth of GdBCO bulks. Using the modified top-seeded melt texture growth method (TSMG), that is, YBa2Cu3O7-δ (Y123) as the liquid phase source, two GdBCO superconducting bulks with buffer layers with a diameter of 25 mm and a thickness of 12 mm were successfully prepared. The seed crystal arrangement of two GdBCO bulks with a distance of 12 mm were (100/100) and (110/110), respectively. The trapped field of the GdBCO superconductor bulks exhibited two peaks. The maximum peaks of superconductor bulk SA (100/100) were 0.30 T and 0.23 T, and the maximum peaks of superconductor bulk SB (110/110) were 0.35 T and 0.29 T. The critical transition temperature remained between 94 K and 96 K, with superior superconducting properties. The maximum JC, self-field of SA appeared in specimen b5, which was 4.5 × 104 A/cm2. Compared with SA, the JC value of SB had obvious advantages in a low magnetic field, medium magnetic field and high magnetic field. The maximum JC, self-field value appeared in specimen b2, which was 4.65 × 104 A/cm2. At the same time, it showed an obvious second peak effect, which was attributed to Gd/Ba substitution. Liquid phase source Y123 increased the concentration of the Gd solute dissolved from Gd211 particles, reduced the size of Gd211 particles and optimized JC. For SA and SB under the joint action of the buffer and the Y123 liquid source, except for the contribution of Gd211 particles to be the magnetic flux pinning center with the improvement of JC, the pores also played a positive role in improving the local JC. More residual melts and impurity phases were observed in SA than in SB, which had a negative impact on the superconducting properties. Thus, SB exhibited a better trapped field and JC.

Strictly application-oriented REBCO bulk fabrication

The ability to produce large-grain REBCO (RE=Y, Rare Earth) bulk superconductors by melt texturing growth has been improved and refined significantly over the last 20 years. Magnetic bearings, transportation systems, and scientific instrumentation are becoming major innovations of HTS bulk materials. Large grain production is dominated by cold top-seeding melt growth (TSMG). For material optimizing we demonstrate strictly application-oriented fabrication close to the final geometry and thus reducing mechanical machining and assembling work. YBCO hollow cylinder design for journal bearings with radial c axes orientation are obtained by radial-seeding geometry (RSMG). YBCO ring tiles up 120 mm show a perfect cylinder geometry with in-wall a, b orientation and radial c axes. We report improved electric and mechanical bulk properties and demonstrate great production effectiveness. For achieving high field permanent magnets up to 10 T we compare YBCO bulk and ring geometry. Top/bottom double seeded melt growth (DSMG) grain samples provide better magnetic flux trapping capability and show more homogenous properties.

Simultaneous measurements of electrical conductivity and seismic wave velocity of partially molten geological materials: effect of evolving melt texture

Comparison between geophysical observations and laboratory measurements yields contradicting estimations of the melt fraction for the partially molten regions of the Earth, highlighting potential disagreements between laboratory-based electrical conductivity and seismic wave velocity measurement techniques. In this study, we performed simultaneous acoustic wave velocity and electrical conductivity measurements on a simplified partial melt analogue (olivine + mid oceanic ridge basalt, MORB) at 2.5 GPa and up to 1650 K. We aim to investigate the effect of ongoing textural modification of partially molten peridotite analog on both electrical conductivity and sound wave velocity. Acoustic wave velocity (Vp and Vs) and EC are measured on an identical sample presenting the same melt texture, temperature gradient, stress field and chemical impurities. We observe a sharp decrease of acoustic wave velocities and increase of electrical conductivity in response to melting of MORB component. At constant temperature of 1650 K, electrical conductivity gradually increases, whereas acoustic velocities remain relatively constant. While the total MORB components melt instantaneously above the melting temperature, the melt interconnectivity and the melt distribution should evolve with time, affecting the electrical conduction. Consequently, our experimental observations suggest that acoustic velocities respond spontaneously to the melt volume fraction for melt with high wetting properties, whereas electrical conduction is significantly affected by subsequent melt texture modifications. We find that acoustic velocity measurements are thus better suited to the determination of the melt fraction of a partially molten sample at the laboratory time scale (~ h). Based on our estimations, the reduced Vs velocity in the major part of the low velocity zone away from spreading ridges can be explained by 0.3–0.8 vol% volatile-bearing melt and the high Vp/Vs ratio obtained for these melt fractions (1.82–1.87) are compatible with geophysical observations.

Texture control of 316L parts by modulation of the melt pool morphology in selective laser melting

In this study, 316L parts were fabricated with the selective laser melting additive layer manufacturing process using unidirectional laser scan to control their texture. The melt pool shape, microstructure and texture of three different cubic samples were analyzed and quantified using optical microscopy and electron back-scattered diffraction. The samples scanned along the shielding gas flow direction were shown to exhibit shallow conduction melt pools together with a strong {110}<001> Goss texture along the laser scanning direction. The sample prepared with a laser scan perpendicular to the gas flow direction had deeper melt pools, with a weaker {110} <001> Goss texture in addition to a <100> fiber texture parallel to the scanning direction. Correlations were proposed between the melt-pool geometry and overlap and the resulting texture. The decrease of the melt pool depth was assumed to be linked to local attenuation of the laser beam effective power density transmitted to the powder bed.

A Low-Cost Fabrication Technique for the Growth of Single-Domain GdBCO Bulk Superconductor from Raw Metal Oxides

A single-domain GdBCO bulk superconductor is usually fabricated using a mixture of pre-reacted precursor powders (including GdBa2Cu3O7−δ and Gd2BaCuO5) by the top-seeded melt texture growth (TSMTG) process. However, the synthesis of pure-phase precursor powder by the solid-state sintering reaction can not only consume time for weeks but also prolong the fabrication process and can lead to a low-efficiency and high-cost process. In this paper, we reported the successful growth of single-domain GdBCO bulk superconductors by the top-seeded metallic oxide melt growth (TS-MOMG) process in which the raw materials of Gd2O3, BaO, and CuO, the three different metallic oxides, are just involved to fabricate the single-domain GdBCO bulk superconductors. After detailed investigations in the morphology, levitation force, trapped magnetic field, and critical temperature of the grown samples with different ratios, it was found that the simplified precursor-phase source can be used to fabricate the single-domain GdBCO bulk superconductors more efficiently, which can combine the crystal growth procedure and greatly economize the preparation cost and the time to the most extent.

Fabrication and properties of single domain GdBCO superconducting rings by a buffer aided Gd+011 TSIG method

Single domain REBCO bulk superconductors can be fabricated by both the top-seeded melt texture growth process and the top-seeded infiltration and growth (TSIG) process. The buffer pellet technique used in these two methods has been demonstrated to act as an efficient seed and to aid the growth of the REBCO bulk superconductors. In this paper, we combined the Gd+011 TSIG method and buffer pellet technique together to fabricate single domain REBCO superconducting rings without any machining and obvious shrinkage of the final ring, which shows a satisfactory trapped field and very good magnetic shielding at the same time. It is found that (1) a single domain GdBCO ring, with inner diameter of 10 mm and outer diameter of 32 mm, has been fabricated by this method successfully. (2) The trapped field (0.32 T, 77 K) and maximum levitation force (80.1 N, 77 K) of the single domain GdBCO ring are nearly the same as the trapped field (0.33 T, 77 K) and maximum levitation force (80.2 N, 77 K) of the single domain GdBCO bulk with the same diameter and thickness, but the uniformity of trapped field is much better for the single domain GdBCO ring. (3) The single domain GdBCO ring shows very good magnetic shielding property, the magnetic flux density shielded by the superconducting ring is up to 0.40 T at 77 K, which is much higher than that of reported samples. The results indicate that the buffer aided Gd+011 TSIG method can provide an important way to fabricate high quality single domain REBCO superconducting rings directly.

Abnormal behaviors in lock-in transition of the vortices in melt textured growth of YBa2Cu3O7- crystals

The magnetization behavior of the layered anisotropic high-Tc superconductor in the mixed state Hc1 H Hc2 has a feature that when the angle between the applied magnetic field H and the CuO plane (a-b plane) is less than a critical value ( L), the vortex lattice is converted from three-dimensional structure into two-dimensional structure, forming a phenomenon so called the lock-in transition, where the flux lines are completely parallel to the a-b plane, and the vertical component of the magnetic induction B丄 (perpendicular to the a-b plane) is consequently zero. So far, there have still existed the differences in the physical explanation of the lock-in phenomenon. For the lock-in phenomenon occurring in the region between the CuO planes, it can be considered to be caused by the transverse Meissner effect. However, for the one occurring in other extended correlated defect areas, such as twin boundaries in YBa2Cu3O7- (YBCO) crystal, this phenomenon is believed to be the results of the energy linearization of the vortices trapped in the defect channels. Many theoretical and experimental studies have revealed the existence of the lock-in behaviors related to the microstructure properties of the superconductor crystals. Therefore, the research of the lock-in transition behavior will be helpful to understand the intrinsic pinning properties of the layered anisotropic superconductors, and the phase transition process in the vortex system. In this paper, we systematically measure the magnetic torque signal in melt texture growth YBCO (MTG-YBCO) bulk and observe an abnormal lock-in transition behavior in the vortex system. The critical angle of the lock-in transition is found to be directly proportional to the strength of the magnetic field, which is contrary to the observations in the common cases. According to the framework of the Ginzburg-Landau theory and the kink structure model of the vortex line, we discuss the abnormal phenomenon, and propose that there is a type of extend-correlated defect structure, which is parallel to the a-b plane, in the MTG-YBCO crystal. The relationship between the critical angle of the lock-in transition to the temperature and the magnetic field is established theoretically, and the theoretical results coincide well with the torque measurements.

The fabrication process of a high performance and pure c-axis grown GdBCO bulk superconductor with the TSMT-IG technique

It is very important to choose a suitable seed crystal in the fabrication process of the (RE)BCO bulk superconductors by the top-seeded growth method, because a defective seed would result in the failure of the entire sample. Therefore, for optimizing the seed, a new approach is proposed in this paper for the fabrication process of Gd-Ba-Cu-O (GdBCO) bulk with promising superconducting properties. We developed the top-seeded melt texture and infiltration growth (TSMT-IG) process based on the modified top-seeded infiltration and growth (TSIG) process. In this modified infiltration growth, a mini pellet of thin melting texture (TMT) GdBCO was inserted between the NdBCO seed crystal and the solid-phase precursor pellet, resulting in the successful formation of well purified c-axis-oriented GdBCO crystals with a proper-sized TMT layer. The growth morphology, microstructure, side growth boundary, and superconducting properties of the GdBCO bulk superconductors with three different sizes of TMT pellets were studied in this paper. The results proved that the success rate for the fabrication of single-domain GdBCO bulk superconductors can be improved by the TSMT-IG process, which can also effectively inhibit the random nucleation phenomenon at some extent during the process of single-domain GdBCO bulk superconductor growth. In addition, the application of this new growth technology can help us not only to improve the growth performance of GdBCO samples with a proper size of the TMT mini pellet but also reduce the fabrication cost due to the use of only one precursor powder.

Development of a superconducting joint between a GdBa2Cu3O7-δ-coated conductor and YBa2Cu3O7−δ bulk: towards a superconducting joint between RE (Rare Earth) Ba2Cu3O7−δ-coated conductors

We have started to develop a superconducting bridge joint between two GdBa2Cu3O7−δ (Gd123)-coated conductors, where both conductors are placed in an end-to-end arrangement on the surface of a melt-textured YBCO (including Y2BaCuO5 and YBa2Cu3O7−δ) bulk, which acts as a superconducting medium between the coated conductors. As a first step in the development, one half of the bridge joint assembly was modeled and investigated. Experimental results achieved are as follows: (a) the higher-melting-temperature textured Gd123-coated conductor acts as a seed for the melt texture of the YBa2Cu3O7−δ (Y123) bulk, and (b) the superconducting phase continues across the Y123/Gd123 boundary. The critical current of the joint model is 10 A, which is about 10% of the original Gd123-coated conductor, at 77 K in a self-magnetic field. These results are considered to be extensible to the superconducting bridge joint between the Gd123-coated conductors.

Improvement of Gd123 superconductor bulks with the additions of BaFe12O19

The flux pinning performance of the superconductors is important for the application of the Gd123 bulk superconductors. The study shows that to introduce the secondary phases into the Gd123 bulk matrix can enhance the flux pinning performance. In this article, by using top-seeding melt texture growth process method, single domain GdBa2Cu3O7-δ superconductor bulks doping with the different amounts of BaFe12O19 (0.0mol% to 0.8mol%) were successfully achieved. The property and micro-structure have also been investigated. The result shows that there is an obvious improvement on JC with 0.2mol% BaFe12O19 addition. The fine distribution and smaller size of Gd211 particles appear in the micro-structure which may result in the enhancement of JC. At the same time, BaFe12O19 may also form an effective pinning center to increase JC.

Effect of BaFe12O19 nanoparticles doped on the properties of single domain GdBa2Cu3O7-δ high-temperature superconductors

The flux pinning performance of the superconductor is important for the applications of the GdBa2Cu3O7-δ superconductor bulk. To introduce the suitable secondary phase into the GdBa2Cu3O7-δ matrix is an important way to enhance the performance of flux pinning. By using top-seeded melt texture growth process, single domain GdBa2Cu3O7-δ superconductor bulks (20 mm in diameter) doping with different quantities of BaFe12O19 nano-particles (12O19(x=0, 0.2 mol%, 0.4 mol%, 0.8 mol%)+ 10 wt% Ag2O+ 0.5 wt% Pt. The effects of different quantities of BaFe12O19 nano-particles on superconducting properties and microstructure are also investigated. The result shows that the critical current density, JC, with 0.2 mol% BaFe12O19 additions reaches a maximum value in the zero field, which is about 5.5 × 104 A/cm2. And the critical current density JC, almost increases in the whole field compared with those of the undoped bulks. The microstructure and chemical composition of GdBa2Cu3O7-δ bulk with BaFe12O19 nano-particles are implemented by the SEM-EDS technique. It is found that BaFe12O19 nano-particles keeps a similar form to that of the precursor in the final superconductor bulk. The average size of Gd2BaCuO5 particles is reduced from 1.4 μm in the undoped bulk to 0.79 μm in the bulk with 0.2 mol% BaFe12O19 nano-particles. We suggest that BaFe12O19 nano-particles may form effective magnetic flux centers in the bulks, which affects the homogeneous distribution and refinement of Gd2BaCuO5 particles. Therefore, the improvements in the critical current density and the trapped field are observed in the GdBa2Cu3O7-δ bulk with low-level doped content. The superconducting transition temperature TC, can be maintained at around 92.5 K. However, with the addition of 0.4 mol% BaFe12O19 nano-particles, the critical current density and superconducting transition temperature decrease obviously. It indicates that the excessive addition of BaFe12O19 nano-particles may affect the superconductivity properties to reduce the critical current density, JC. The result indicates that the low-level content BaFe12O19 nano-particles can be an effective second phase for the improvement of the GdBa2Cu3O7-δ superconductor bulks, which is very important for the further enhancing the superconducting properties of GdBa2Cu3O7-δ bulks by introducing the flux pinning of nano-particles.

Improvement on the melt-texturing performance of a (Y,Ta)0.5BaO3–YBa2Cu3Oy composite with superconductor applications

The aim of the article is to show the decrease in the peritectic temperature of a YBa2Cu3O7−d (Y123) superconductor phase with the Y0.5Ta0.5BaO3 (YTaBa) perovskite content. The decrease in the peritectic temperature is associated with the thermodynamic property between the Y123 and YBaTa perovskite phases (coligative property). Experimental results of the differential thermal analysis (DTA) and thermodynamic explanation are also provided. A slight displacement to a lower temperature range in the peritectic line suggests that the texturing of the Y123 material occurs under a lower temperature than the pure Y123. It seems that the required time for the melt-texturing is considerably decreased. This facilitates the performance in the texturing process. It is also found that the proposed Y123 superconductor is a potential top-seed in order to grow grains by the melt texture technique.

Size effects of nano-scale pinning centers on the superconducting properties of YBCO single grains

High pinning superconductors are the most promising materials for power engineering. Their superconducting properties are governed by the microstructure quality and the vortex pinning behavior. We report on a study of the vortex pinning in YBa2Cu3O7−x (YBCO) single grain with defects induced through the addition of insulating nano-particles. In order to improve the critical current density, YBCO textured bulk superconductors were elaborated using the Top Seeded Melt Texture and Growth process with different addition amounts of Al2O3 nano-particles. Serving as strong pinning centers, 0.05% excess of Al2O3 causes a significant enhancement of the critical current density Jc under self field and in magnetic fields at 77K. The enhanced flux pinning achieved with the low level of alumina nano-particles endorses the effectiveness of insulating nano-inclusions to induce effectives pinning sites within the superconducting matrix. On the other side, we focused on the effect of the size of pinning centers on the critical current density. This work was carried out using two batches of alumina nano-particles characterized by two different particle size distributions with mean diameters PSD1=20nm and PSD2=2.27μm. The matching effects of the observed pinning force density have been compared. The obtained results have shown that the flux pinning is closely dependent on the size of the artificial pinning centers. Our results suggest that the optimization of the size of the artificial pinning centers is crucial to a much better understanding of the pinning mechanisms and therefore to insure high superconducting performance for the practical application of superconducting materials.

The melt‐bearing impactites of the Ritland structure, Norway–Implications for melt formation in small impact craters

AbstractA melt‐bearing impactite unit is preserved in the 2.7 km diameter shallow marine Ritland impact structure. The main exposure of the melt‐bearing unit is in an approximately 100 m long cliff about 700 m southwest of the center of the structure. The melt and clast content vary through this maximum 2 m thick unit, so that lithology ranges from impact melt rock to suevite. Stratigraphic variations with respect to the melt content, texture, mineralogy, and geochemistry have been studied in the field, and by laboratory analysis, including thin section microscopy. The base of the melt‐bearing unit marks the transition from the underlying lithic basement breccia, and the unit may have been emplaced by an outward flow during the excavation stage. There is an upward development from a melt matrix‐dominated lower part, that commonly shows flow structures, to an upper part characterized by more particulate matrix with patchy melt matrix domains, commonly as deformed melt slivers intermingled with small lithic clasts. Melt and lithic fragments in the upper part display a variety of shapes and compositions, some of which possibly represent fallback material from the ejecta cloud. The upper boundary of the melt‐bearing impactite unit has been placed where the deposits are mainly clastic, probably representing slump and avalanche deposits from the modification stage. These deposits are therefore considered sedimentary and not impactites, despite the component of small melt fragments and shocked minerals within the lowermost part, which was probably incorporated as the debris moved down the steep crater walls.

Plastic Forming of High‐TcYBa2Cu3O7−x Bulk Superconductors

The large bulk high‐Tc YBa2Cu3O7−x (YBCO) superconductor samples were prepared by plastic‐forming method. We examined the effects of the solvent and the crystallinity of YBCO powder on the composition, crystallinity, and superconducting properties of YBCO sheet samples (sample size: 50 mm × 50 mm× 3 mm). By changing the solvent from water to turpentine oil, the leaching of Ba2+ ions from YBa2Cu3(OH)y multimetallic hydroxide particles used as an inorganic binder and the YBCO powder were reduced. This results in the composition of the grain boundaries of fired YBCO sheet samples to be the same as the composition of YBa2Cu3(OH)y multimetallic hydroxide particles. Changing nondoped YBCO powder prepared by sintering to 5 wt% Pt‐doped YBCO powder prepared by melt texturing, Jc value of YBCO sheet samples changed from about 700 to 6,106 A/cm2 at 77 K.

Growth anisotropy effect of bulk high temperature superconductors on the levitation performance in the applied magnetic field

Growth anisotropies of bulk high temperature superconductors (HTSCs) fabricated by a top-seeded melt texture growth process, that is, different pinning effect in the growth sectors (GSs) and growth sector boundaries (GSBs), possess effect on the macro flux trapping and levitation performance of bulk HTSCs. Previous work (Physics Procedia, 36 (2012) 1043) has found that the bulk HTSC array with aligned GSB pattern (AGSBP) exhibits better capability for levitation and suppression of levitation force decay above a permanent magnet guideway (PMG) compared with misaligned GSB pattern (MGSBP). In this paper, we further examine this growth anisotropy effect on the maglev performance of a double-layer bulk HTSC. In contrast to reported trapped flux cases (Supercond. Sci. Technol. 19 (2006) S466), the two superposed bulk HTSCs with same AGSBP with PMG are found to show better maglev performance. These series of results are helpful and support a new way for the performance optimization of present HTS maglev systems.

Zirconological tracing of transition between aqueous fluid and hydrous melt in the crust: Constraints from pegmatite vein and host gneiss in the Sulu orogen

Zircon can grow from aqueous fluid and hydrous melt in crustal rocks when they undergo metamorphic dehydration and partial melting under high-pressure (HP) to ultrahigh-pressure (UHP) conditions. A distinction between fluid and melt has important bearing on the development of crustal anatexis in collisional orogens. A genetic transition between fluid and melt is recorded by zircons from pegmatite vein and host UHP gneiss in the Sulu orogen. This transition is elucidated by an integrated study of SIMS U–Pb and O isotope analyses with LA-ICPMS U–Pb isotope and trace element analyses in the zircons. Pegmatite veins yield zircon U–Pb ages of 147–153Ma for new growths, and 700–800Ma for relict cores. A one meter-width pegmatite vein exhibits two episodes of zircon growth at 153±3Ma for inner domain and at 147±2Ma for outer domain. The two types of domains have a series of differences in CL image, inclusion type, REE content and pattern, trace element contents and ratios, and Ti-in-zircon temperature. The inner domain grew from the hydrous melt at 730–840°C, whereas the outer domain grew from the aqueous fluid at 520–650°C. Nevertheless, they have similarly low δ18O values of 1.0–2.3‰, suggesting their growth from O isotope homogeneous media despite the transition from melt to fluid. The host gneiss of this pegmatite vein exhibits three generations of zircon growth, with 180–205Ma at 700–770°C during amphibolite-facies metamorphism, 157±3Ma at 610–670°C for fluid-assisted growth, and 147±2Ma at 780–860°C for melt-assisted growth. The last two types of growth record the development of crustal anatexis from hydration melting to dehydration melting. The other decimeter-width pegmatite vein exhibits only one episode of zircon growth from melt at 149±2Ma and 660–860°C. Its host gneiss exhibits a residual melt texture but no significant growth of zircon, indicating low degree of dehydration melting. Therefore, the zircon domains in the host gneisses record their growth during a transition from aqueous fluid to hydrous melt along a temperature-increasing path, whereas the zircon domains in the pegmatite veins record their growth during a transition from hydrous melt to aqueous fluid along a temperature-decreasing path. Despite the difference in the direction of fluid/melt evolution, the all zircon domains in these gneisses and pegmatite veins record the same event of crustal anatexis in the UHP gneisses. The present study also provides insights into a genetic definition of anatectic melt and thus anatectic zircon.