Effect of Fe on the glass-forming ability, structure and devitrification behavior of Zr–Cu–Al bulk glass-forming alloys

Abstract

We report on the glass-forming ability and devitrification behavior of Zr₆₀Cu₃₀Al₁₀, Zr₆₀Cu₂₅Al₁₀Fe₅ and Zr_62.5Cu_22.5Al₁₀Fe₅ bulk glass-forming alloys on heating. The effect of Fe addition on the structure of Zr–Al–Cu alloys is also discussed. Crystallization kinetics and structural changes in the glassy alloys were studied using X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, differential scanning and isothermal calorimetry methods. The results indicate that good glass-formers, such as Zr_62.5Cu_22.5Al₁₀Fe₅, are located somewhat beyond the equilibrium eutectic point. Possible phase separation in the supercooled liquid on heating and electron beam-induced in situ crystallization are observed and discussed.

Keywords:

• bulk glassy alloy
• metallic glass
• crystallization
• transmission electron microscopy (TEM)

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the Research and Development Project on Advanced Metallic Glasses, Inorganic Materials and Joining Technology and by Grant-in-Aid “Priority Area on Science and Technology of Microwave-Induced, Thermally Non-Equilibrium Reaction Field” No. 18070001 from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Japan. We thank Dr. Hayasaka from the High-Voltage Microscopy Center for HAADF observations.