Published online by Cambridge University Press: 10 February 2011
The mechanisms of layer structure formation in the two phase region of peritectic systems are discussed. Under diffusive growth conditions, a banded structure is predicted within a narrow composition range in the hypoperitectic composition. Experimental studies show the formation of an oscillatory structure in the hyperperitectic region. It is shown that this structure is induced by convection in the melt, and it is a novel structure in which a large single tree-like structure of primary phase is surrounded by the peritectic phase. Basic ideas of convection that lead to this tree-like morphology are described.