Structural Feature and Solute Trapping of Rapidly Grown Ni₃Sn Intermetallic Compound

The rapid dendritic growth of primary Ni₃Sn phase in undercooled Ni-30.9%Sn-5%Ge alloy is investigated by using the glass fluxing technique. The dendritic growth velocity of Ni₃Sn compound is measured as a function of undercooling, and a velocity of 2.47m/s is achieved at the maximum undercooling of 251K (0.17T_L). The addition of the Ge element reduces its growth velocity as compared with the binary Ni₇₅Sn₂₅ alloy. During rapid solidification, the Ni₃Sn compound behaves like a normal solid solution and it displays a morphological transition of "coarse dendrite-equiaxed grain-vermicular structure'' with the increase of undercooling. Significant solute trapping of Ge atoms occurs in the whole undercooling range.