Metastable liquid phase separation in undercooled molten Pd40.5Ni40.5P19

It was demonstrated that molten Pd40.5Ni40.5P19 undergoes liquid state phase separation in the undercooling regime Delta T = T-1 - T where T-1 is the liquidus of Pd40.5Ni40.5P19 and T is the kinetic crystallization temperature. Liquid state phase separation by nucleation and growth takes place for Delta T less than or equal to 60 K while that by spinodal decomposition occurs for Delta T greater than or equal to 100 K. Microstructural analysis of the undercooled specimen obtained in the undercooling regime of 60 less than or equal to Delta T less than or equal to 100 K indicates that it is the transition regime. Finally, it was found that when undercooled molten Pd40.5Ni40.5P19 undergoes liquid state spinodal decomposition, it first decomposes into two liquid networks, which is finally replaced by a system of three liquid networks.