Melting and structural behaviour of indium nanoparticles embedded in an aluminium matrix

The melting behaviour of small crystalline solid particles has attracted the interest of many researchers. In the present work, an alloy of Al-4 at % In with nanoparticles of Indium embedded in an Aluminium matrix was synthesized by rapid quenching using the melt-spinning technique. The melting point and freezing behaviour of the embedded nanoparticles were investigated using differential scanning calorimetry and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) including high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). DSC experiments showed broad melting and crystallization peaks. The crystallization temperature of the embedded particles shifted to remarkable low temperature. The microstructure exhibited a homogeneous distribution of facetted In particles embedded in the Al-matrix. Analyses of HRTEM images were done to analyse the topology of the heterophase interfaces between Al and In in detail. The results are discussed with respect of the impact of the mismatch accommodation of interfaces on the thermodynamics of nanoscale systems.