In situhigh-resolution electron microscopy observation of the melting process of In particles embedded in an Al matrix

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Abstract
The melting process of In particles embedded in an Al matrix has been observed continuously using an in situ heating experiment in a high-resolution high-voltage electron microscope. The crystalline In particles are cubo-octahedral in shape, bounded by eight {111}Al,ln and six {100}Al,ln facets. Cavities are attached to most of the In particles. Melting started either at the cavity or at one of the {100} facets and proceeded into the interior of the In particle. The process took place in six stages, in each of which one {100} facet became covered by the liquid phase. In particular, at the very beginning of the melting process, the liquid droplet, nucleated at a {100} facet, assumed two configurations alternately before the liquid reached the next {100} facet. The time spent in this stage was much longer than that spent in the rest of the process, and it is concluded that this stage is the rate-controlling process.