Behavior of fine crystalline particles of W5Si3 on a β-Si3N4 substrate at high temperatures was observed by an in situ heating experiment in a transmission electron microscope. Some of the fine particles of W5Si3 moved in a to-and-fro manner.

An experimental high-resolution image of a solid–liquid interface of solid Si and liquid Al–Si alloy has been compared with theoretical images obtained by computer simulation. It has been concluded that the solid–liquid interface has a transition layer, the structure of which is compatible with the 1 × 1 Si-{111} surface.

The processes of melting and freezing of aluminum (Al) particles have been observed directly in a transmission electron microscope. The liquid phase nucleated preferentially at the surface of an Al particle, surrounding the crystalline solid at the onset of melting. The liquid phase then propagated inside the Al particle at the expense of the solid.