Using KCI/ZnSO4 eutectic it has been shown that cooling the melt into a room temperature enclosure forms a lamellar structure, whereas cooling into a heated enclosure (225 degrees C) forms a conglomerate structure, while an enclosure temperature of 125 degrees C gave a partially conglomerate structure with some lamellae in process of forming conglomerates. Consideration of the thermal gradients imposed on solidification and consequently the relative time available during which the ions are sufficiently mobile to rearrange their positions, can explain the observation that lamellar structures are formed by higher melting point eutectics, whereas eutectics of lower melting point form conglomerate structures. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.