Nanocrystallization in Al-based amorphous alloys

Crystallization Kinetics and Consolidation of Al82La10Fe4Ni4 Glassy Alloy Powder by Spark Plasma Sintering

The mechanically alloyed Al82La10Ni4Fe4 glassy powder displays a two-step devitrification characterized by the precipitation of fcc-Al together with small amounts of the intermetallic Al11La3 phase in the first crystallization. The interface-controlled growth mechanism governed the first crystallization event. Calculations of the activation energy, using the methods of Kissinger, Ozawa, and Augis-Bennett gave values of 432.33, 443.2, and 437.76 kJ/mol, respectively. The calculated Avrami exponent (n) for the first crystallization peak was about 1.41, suggesting an almost zero nucleation rate. On the other hand, the value of n for the second peak related to the residual amorphous phase completely transformed into the intermetallic phase Al11La3 was about 3.61, characterizing diffusion controlled three-dimensional crystal growth with an increasing nucleation rate. Samples sintered at 573 K kept an amorphous structure and exhibited a high compressive strength of 650 MPa with a maximum elongation of 2.34% without any plastic deformation. The failure morphology of the sintered sample surface presented a transparticle fracture mechanism, indicating the efficiency of the sintering processing.

Novel Heating-Induced Reversion during Crystallization of Al-based Glassy Alloys

Thermal stability and crystallization of three multicomponent glassy alloys, Al₈₆Y₇Ni₅Co₁Fe_0.5Pd_0.5, Al₈₅Y₈Ni₅Co₁Fe_0.5Pd_0.5 and Al₈₄Y₉Ni₄Co_1.5Fe_0.5Pd₁, were examined to assess the ability to form the mixture of amorphous (am) and fcc-aluminum (α-Al) phases. On heating, the glass transition into the supercooled liquid is shown by the 85Al and 84Al glasses. The crystallization sequences are [am] → [am + α-Al] → [α-Al + compounds] for the 86Al and 85Al alloys, and [am] → [am + α-Al + cubic Al_xM_y (M = Y, Ni, Co, Fe, Pd)] → [am + α-Al] → [α-Al + Al₃Y + Al₉(Co, Ni)₂ + unknown phase] for the 84Al alloy. The glass transition appears even for the 85Al alloy where the primary phase is α-Al. The heating-induced reversion from [am + α-Al + multicomponent Al_xM_y] to [am + α-Al] for the 84Al alloy is abnormal, not previously observed in crystallization of glassy alloys, and seems to originate from instability of the metastable Al_xM_y compound, in which significant inhomogeneous strain is caused by the mixture of solute elements. This novel reversion phenomenon is encouraging for obtaining the [am + α-Al] mixture over a wide range of high temperature effective for the formation of Al-based high-strength nanostructured bulk alloys by warm working.

Abrasive Wear Resistance of Bulk Metallic Glasses

This paper reviews work on the wear of metallic glasses in general, as well as reporting recent results on the abrasive wear of bulk metallic glasses. The distinctive mechanical properties of metallic glasses make their wear resistance of fundamental interest. Metallic glasses, and the partially or fully crystalline materials derived from them, can have very good resistance to sliding and abrasive wear. Standard wear laws are followed, with behaviour similar to that of conventional hardened alloys. The microhardness and abrasive wear resistance are measured for four bulk metallic glasses (based on La, Mg, Pd or Zr). The hardness and wear resistance correlate well with the Young's modulus of the glass.