Influence of minor addition of Pd, Ag or Au on the microstructural evolution of mechanically alloyed Zr–Ni alloys

In this work, the influence of minor addition of Pd, Ag or Au (1 at.%) on the microstructural evolution of Zr–Ni alloys during mechanical alloying has been investigated using X-ray diffraction and differential scanning calorimetry. The experimental results show that the minor addition of Pd, Ag or Au has no significant influence on the amorphization process and glass forming ability of Zr–Ni amorphous alloys. In comparison with Ag and Pd, the minor addition of Au can enhance the mechanical and thermal stability of the mechanically alloyed Zr–Ni alloy. Discussion has been made based upon the evolution of the nearest-neighbor distance of atoms with increasing milling time.