On the morphology of <100>-textured Germanium Crystallites in Zn—Ge Eutectic Alloy

Different geometry parameters for the cross-like germanium crystallites (eutectic dendrites) of the Zn-Ge eutectic alloys unidirectionally solidified have been related to the growth rate R and liquid temperature gradient G using linear regression analysis. It has been found that for eutectic dendrite spacing λ, balk length d and balk thickness b follow the relationship of the type w = C_wR^−rwG^−gw; C_w is a constant. The spacing relationship of eutectic dendrites (r_λ = 0.21; g_λ = 0.48) shows a similarity with published experimental and theoretical results on primary dendrite arm spacing (r_λ = 0.25; g_λ = 0.5). It has been shown in terms of a profile ration λ/d that for geometrical similar morphologies the relationship λ²R = const. is valid.