Direct beam x-ray imaging, with intense coherent monochromatic synchrotron
radiation and a fast readout low noise detector has been used for ill situ
studies of cellular and dendritic solidification of Sn-Pb alloys. Temporal
and spatial resolutions down to similar to 0.7 s and similar to 2.5 mu m, r
espectively, with a field of view up to I mm(2) were obtained. The collecte
d images display features from both phase and amplitude contrast which, com
bined with the attainable temporal resolution, provide a method with the po
tential to uncover dynamic processes in nonequilibrium solidification.