Crystallization processes from supercooled liquid of Cu40Ti30Ni15Zr10Sn5 and Zr60Ni25Al15 amorphous alloys

This paper is intended to investigate the effect of additional solute elements on the glass-forming ability by studying the crystallization processes of Cu40Ti30Ni15Zr10Sn5 and Zr60Ni25Al15 amorphous alloys in the supercooled liquid region. The crystallization of Cu40Ti30Ni15Zr10Sn5 amorphous alloy takes place through the reactions of Am→CuTi+Cu10Zr7→Cu10Zr7+Cu3Ti+CuTi2+Cu2Ti. Enrichment of Sn in the Cu10Zr7 phase was revealed by compositional analysis. On the other hand, the crystallization of Zr60Ni25Al15 amorphous alloy takes place through the reaction of Am→Zr5Ni4Al+Zr6NiAl2. The common feature in the crystallization processes of the two alloys is the necessity of significant redistribution of the solute elements (Sn or Al), which is believed to play an important role in the stability of the supercooled liquid against crystallization.