Volume fractions (horizontal axis) of solid iron (black), liquid iron (red), solid silicates (green) and liquid silicates (yellow) as function of the relative radius r/R_p(t) (vertical axis). Plotted data show the internal structures at the time when the core formation is completed, i.e. no more iron separation from a matrix with silicates (in the case P1, for which no core forms, the final structure is shown at 15 Ma). Note also that after iron melt percolates downwards and a core forms, some of the iron recrystallises again with decreasing temperature. From left to right the panels correspond to the cases P1–P4 with T_L,Fe = 1700 K and PL1–PL4 with T_L,Fe = 1233 K. See Table 9 for further information.