Formation of the Short‐Range Order in Liquid Al−Ni−Sn Alloys.

Short‐range order (SRO) in the liquid Al−Ni−Sn alloys has been investigated using the X‐ray diffraction method and Reverse Monte Carlo simulations. Obtained results point out a micro‐inhomogeneous structure of Al−Sn−Ni melts with Sn content between 10 and 65 at.% due to the presence of atomic clusters with the structure of liquid Sn and atomic clusters with Ni−Sn coordination. The influence of the atomic size ratio (size factor) and pair atomic interactions (energy factor) on the short‐range order of the investigated ternary melts are discussed. There is a competition between Al and Sn atoms in the formation of the SRO around Ni atoms due to the difference in bond energy in Ni−Al and Ni−Sn pairs. This competition, as well as a bigger radius of Sn atoms, results in the formation of atomic clusters with liquid Sn‐like local atomic structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]