Persistent local chemical bonds in intermetallic phase formation

We found a direct evidence for the existence of the local chemical Bi-In bonds in the BiIn2 melt. These bonds are strong and prevail, dominating the structure evolution of the intermetallic clusters. From the local structure of the melt-quenched BiIn2 ribbon, the chemical Bi-In bonds strengthen compared with those in the equilibrium solidified alloy. The chemical bonds in BiIn2 melt retain to solid during a rapid quenching process. The results suggest that the intermetallic clusters in the melt evolve into the as-quenched intermetallic phase, and the intermetallic phase originates from the chemical bonds between unlike atoms in the melt. The chemical bonds preserve the chemical ordered clusters and dominate the clusters evolution.