Broad ranges of cooling rates (urn:x-wiley:14381656:media:adem201701179:adem201701179-math-0001) 0.8–30.5 and 0.4–5.0 K s−1 are attained during directional solidification of eutectic Sn–0.2 wt% Ni and hypereutectic Sn–0.5 wt% Ni alloys, respectively. A reverse high cooling rate cell‐to‐dendrite transition occurs for the eutectic composition and a transition from high cooling rate cells to plate like cells for the hypereutectic alloy. High cooling rate β ‐Sn cells are associated with cooling rates >5.5 and >2.7 K s−1 for eutectic and hypereutectic compositions, respectively. A processing diagram, relating the ‘urn:x-wiley:14381656:media:adem201701179:adem201701179-math-0002–Ni content’ space with the microstructural morphology, is proposed. A combination of plate like cells and plate NiSn4 eutectic phase results in higher ductility Ver menos