Devitrification of the Zr41.2Ti13.8Cu12.5Ni10.0Be22.5 bulk metallic glass studied by XRD, SANS, and NMR

The crystallization process of the Zr41.2Ti13.8Cu12.5Ni10.0Be22.5 bulk metallic glass was investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), small-angle neutron scattering, and 9Be nuclear magnetic resonance. Upon annealing near the glass transition and up to a temperature near 673 K, a Be-containing crystalline phase forms after sufficient decomposition of the supercooled liquid. The XRD pattern of this Be-containing phase is consistent with icosahedral symmetry. The small length scale of the decomposed supercooled liquid structure limits the grain size of this phase, which gives rise to broad XRD peaks. Above 673 K, annealing produces Be2Zr and Zr2Cu, along with other crystalline phases.