Einschlussfusion

Einschlussfusion is not a widely established term in mainstream physics or materials science. In German-language sources, it may be used descriptively to denote the process by which an inclusion — a foreign particle or second-phase particle embedded in a solid — becomes fused with the surrounding matrix during high-temperature processing. The term can also describe the coalescence or dissolution-wetting of an inclusion into the host material under melting, diffusion, or reaction at the interface.

In practice, Einschlussfusion would refer to a range of microstructural phenomena, including wetting of the inclusion by the liquid or plastic matrix during melting, diffusion of matrix atoms into the inclusion boundary, partial dissolution of the inclusion, and potential formation of interfacial compounds or a unified phase. The outcome is a reduction in the distinctness of the inclusion and a more continuous or homogeneous microstructure, which can influence mechanical properties such as strength, toughness, and creep resistance.

Contexts where similar ideas are relevant include casting and solidification, welding and soldering, and high-temperature sintering. In these processes, inclusions typically act as stress concentrators or sites for crack initiation; controlled coalescence or dissolution can be used to modify material performance, though it may also degrade properties if not well managed.

Analysis methods include optical and electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and electron backscatter diffraction to characterize the interfacial structure and composition. The term remains nonstandard, and when precise meaning is required, researchers usually specify the observed interfacial phenomena (e.g., wetting, dissolution, coalescence) rather than using the umbrella term "Einschlussfusion."