Critical scattering of Ni–Nb–Y metallic glasses probed by quantitative anomalous small-angle X-ray scattering

Phase-separated Ni–Nb–Y metallic glasses were prepared by means of rapid quenching from the melt. Different stages of spinodal decomposition were obtained for Ni-contents between 66 and 71 at.%. From anomalous small-angle X-ray scattering experiments performed at the K-absorption edges of nickel, yttrium and niobium different correlation lengths, of between 15 and 5.5 nm, were found for the different concentrations. Moreover, from the quantitative analysis of the resonant invariant the chemical concentrations of yttrium and niobium in the random density fluctuations were deduced. The results are compared to a partially crystallized sample annealed at 773 K over 30 min.