Two-Phase Equilibrium in Small Alloy Particles

TL;DR

This paper investigates how small alloy particles exhibit unique phase behaviors, including the degeneration of eutectic points into melting intervals, due to interface capillary energy effects.

Contribution

It reveals that small particle size fundamentally alters alloy phase equilibria, leading to discontinuous melting and modified phase diagram features.

Findings

Eutectic points degenerate into melting intervals in small particles

Phase equilibria are significantly affected by capillary energy at small sizes

Discontinuous melting occurs within certain composition ranges

Abstract

The coexistence of two phases within a particle requires an interface with a significant capillary energy. We show that this entails changes in the nature of alloy phase equilibria at small size. Most notably, the eutectic points in alloy phase diagrams degenerate into intervals of composition where the alloy melts discontinuously.