Surfaces, interfaces and phase transitions in Al–In monotectic alloys

Abstract Surface and bulk liquid phase transitions are measured by a unique method currently used to determine surface and interfacial tension of liquid alloys. Focusing on the Al–In system, the location of the liquid miscibility gap was determined from the critical to the monotectic temperatures. The surface tensions of nine liquid alloys, the interfacial tension between coexisting liquids and their densities were measured as a function of temperature. Implementing the bulk data extracted from the asymmetric miscibility gap into a sub-regular model reproduced the experimental surface and interfacial tensions. The wetting temperature was estimated to lie well below the monotectic temperature. The micrometer thickness of the In-rich films which wet the surface of the Al-rich liquid phase after solidification is suggested to be due to the growth of the equilibrium wetting film by diffusion from the Al-rich phase during cooling.