Temperature dependences of structure and physical properties of eutectic InSn49.1 melt

The temperature dependences of structure and some physical properties of eutectic InSn49.1 (wt%) melt were investigated by means of high temperature X-ray diffractometer, internal friction and DC four-probe method. In the heating procedure of the melt, a discontinuous temperature induced liquid-liquid structure change was observed within the temperature range of 620-850°C. The X-ray diffraction results show that both mean nearest neighbour distance and coordination number altered anomalously within 650-800°C; in addition, the size of the ordering domain and ordering degree of the melt all decreased evidently at the end of the structure change. It is presumed that this structure change resulted from the adjustment of the atomic bonds of Sn-Sn and In-In. A theoretical discussion on the correlation between structure and physical properties of InSn49.1 melt was also given.