Phase Separation and Anomalous Volume Expansion in Frozen Microscale Eutectic Indium-Gallium upon Remelting

TL;DR

This study investigates the phase separation and volume expansion phenomena in frozen eutectic Ga-In alloy during remelting, revealing unique cryogenic behavior and metastable phase formation with implications for self-healing applications.

Contribution

The paper uncovers previously overlooked cryogenic volume expansion and phase behavior in EGaIn, advancing understanding of its structural evolution during thermal cycling.

Findings

Sudden volume expansion during in-situ heat-cycling at cryogenic temperatures

Formation of metastable Ga phases during cooling

Revealed importance of kinetics in rejuvenation processes

Abstract

The eutectic Ga-In (EGaIn) alloy has low vapor pressure, low toxicity, high thermal and electrical conductivities, and thus has shown a great potential for smart material applications. For such applications, EGaIn is maintained above its melting point, below which it undergoes solidification and phase separation. A scientific understanding of the structural and compositional evolution during thermal cycling could help further assess the application range of low-melting-point fusible alloys. Here, we use an integrated suite of cryogenically-enabled advanced microscopy & microanalysis to better understand phase separation and (re)mixing processes in EGaIn. We reveal an overlooked thermal-stimulus-response behaviour for frozen mesoscale EGaIn at cryogenic temperatures, with a sudden volume expansion observed during in-situ heat-cycling, associated with the immiscibility between Ga and In during cooling and the formation of metastable Ga phases. These results emphasize the importance of the kinetics of rejuvenation, and open new paths for EGaIn as a self-healing material.