Laser-induced self-propagating high-temperature synthesis of amorphous- and quasicrystal-containing composite materials

Strong exothermic reactions due to a large negative enthalpy of mixing can occur among the major components of the Zr-based bulk metallic glass and the Zr–Ti-based stable quasicrystal alloy systems. Based on this idea, a new technique is developed to fabricate amorphous- and quasicrystal-containing composite materials using laser-induced self-propagating high-temperature synthesis (LSHS). The LSHS of the Zr55Al10Ni5Cu30 alloy shows that the product mainly consists of the amorphous, Zr3Al2 and Zr2Cu phases. The LSHS product for the Ti40Zr40Ni20 alloy is mainly composed of the α-(Ti, Zr) solid-solution, the icosahedral quasicrystal, and the C14-Laves phase with the MgZn2 structure type.