On the formation of nano-sized quasicrystals in Ti53Zr27Ni20 alloy

We report here the formation of a nano-quasicrystalline (qc) phase in the melt spun ribbons of Ti53Zr27Ni20 alloy based on the results of transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Such a phase was formed by employing melt spinning of the alloy, at a wheel speed of 40 m/s. The nano-qc phase (30–40 nm) was detected through diffraction monitored by 30 nm electron probe using TEM. Together with this crystalline phases were found to coexist. These crystalline phases were found to be belonging to cubic crystal system (a=3.40 Å) and a hexagonal phase (a=5.21 Å, c=8.53 Å).