Recrystallization developed in the largely undercooled Ni54.6Pd45.4 alloy

The structure evolution driven by recrystallization in the bulk undercooled Ni54.6Pd45.4 alloy was investigated by quenching the sample at different cooling stages. It is found that recrystallization of the solid beyond the critical undercooling for grain refinement starts at the end of rapid solidification, and develops during the slow solidification and the subsequent cooling process. At the initial stage of recrystallization, nuclei successively form in the sample, leading to a decrease in grain size. At the later stage, annexation of grains dominates the recrystallization, due to which the grain size increases. As undercooling prior to solidification increases, the deformation degree in the rapidly solidified dendrite net rises, and the recalescence temperature as well as the duration at high temperature decreases. Consequently, the grain size of the recrystallization structure decreases.