Dendritic Crystallization of an Amorphous Alloy

Abstract

A 15 at. % germanium-tellurium alloy was quenched from the melt at a rate that prevented the formation of a crystalline phase or phases. The transformation of this amorphous alloy to a crystalline state was studied by transmission electron microscopy. It was observed that the initial crystalline phase precipitates out of the amorphous matrix in the form of dendrities. The later stages of crystallization are characterized by growth of the dendrites.