Solid-solid phase transitions via melting in metals.

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Condensed Matter Physics
• Physical Chemistry

Background:

• Observing solid-solid phase transitions in-situ with high temporal and spatial resolution is challenging.
• Previous studies in polymeric colloidal particles suggested intermediate liquid states during solid-solid transitions.
• Such phenomena were hypothesized but not experimentally confirmed in atomic systems like metals.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide experimental evidence of a solid-solid phase transition involving a metastable liquid in a metallic system.
• To investigate the kinetics and thermodynamics of this transition in bulk glass-forming metallic systems.
• To explore the general applicability of this transition mechanism in metallic glasses and metals.

Main Methods:

• In-situ observation of solid-solid phase transitions using fast differential scanning calorimetry.
• Experimental investigation of a bulk glass-forming metallic system.
• Analysis of transformation kinetics and underlying thermodynamics.

Main Results:

• Experimental evidence for a solid-solid phase transition proceeding through a metastable liquid state was observed in a metallic system.
• The transition was studied in-situ within a bulk glass-forming metallic material.
• Transformation kinetics and thermodynamic aspects were investigated.

Conclusions:

• The formation of a metastable liquid state during solid-solid transitions is a real phenomenon in atomic metallic systems.
• This mechanism is likely relevant to many metallic glasses and metals.
• The findings contribute to a deeper understanding of phase transition theory.