Movement of minor phase in undercooled immiscible Fe–Co–Cu alloys

The effects of convection diffusion, gravity, temperature gradient on the liquid-phase separation were discussed in this work. Originally, collision and congregation were mainly controlled by Brown motion of droplets, which was strong influenced by the initial density of droplets in undercooled melt. As the droplets radius increased, the velocities of Stokes and Marangoni motion increased continuously. Compared to Marangoni migration, Stokes motion was easier influenced by the number and radius of droplets. Moreover, Stokes motion plays a dominant role in the collision and congregation process when a critical radius rd was far exceeded.

► The effects of convection diffusion, gravity, temperature gradient on the liquid-phase separation were discussed. ► Originally, collision and congregation were mainly controlled by Brown motion of droplets. ► As the droplets radius increased, the velocities of Stokes and Marangoni motion increased continuously. ► Stokes motion plays a dominant role in the collision and congregation process when a critical radius rd was far exceeded.