  The solidification behavior of a eutectic AlCu specimen is investigated via
in situ scanning transmission electron microscope (STEM) experiments.
Solidification conditions are varied by imposing various cooling conditions via
a micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) based membrane. The methodology allows
the use of material processed by a melting and casting route close to
industrial metallurgically fabricated material for in situ STEM solidification
studies. Different rapid solidification morphologies could be obtained solely
on a single specimen by the demonstrated strategy. Additional
post-solidification heat treatments are investigated in terms of observation of
spheroidization of lamellas during annealing at elevated temperatures.
