Phase separation in monotectic alloys as a route for liquid state fabrication of composite materials

The mechanism of liquid–liquid phase separation and factors determining the solid-state microstructure of monotectic alloys are discussed. The effect of the cooling rate on the phase-separated morphology is shown in examples of Al–In, Al–Pb, Ni–Nb–Y and Zr–Gd–Co–Al alloys solidified by different techniques. A remarkable improvement of the microstructure for the Al91Pb9 hypermonotectic alloy cast with TiB2 particles, which catalyze the phase separation, is demonstrated