The influence of hydrogen absorption on the electrical resistivity and mechanical properties of Zr-based amorphous alloy

The Zr65Al10Ni10Cu15 amorphous ribbon and bulk samples were prepared by the single roller melt-spinning technique and the copper-mold casting, respectively. The hydrogen absorption properties of the ribbon and bulk samples were evaluated at 473 and 523 K under 4 MPa using a Sieverts-type apparatus. For both ribbon and bulk samples, the hydrogen absorption kinetics increase with the increase of temperature, and the hydrogen concentration approaches the saturation value of 0.7 and 0.8 wt.% at 473 and 523 K, respectively. The electrical resistivity of the hydrogenated sample decreases with the increasing temperature with a negative slope, similar as the melt-spun sample. The electrical resistivity increases with the increasing hydrogen content in the amorphous sample mainly due to the diffraction effect from the absorbed hydrogen atoms. The electrical resistivities of the sample with of 0.8 wt.% H are 294 μΩ·cm at 293 K and 316 μΩ·cm at 5 K. The compressive strength of the bulk amorphous alloy is not changed apparently by the absorbed hydrogen. However, the plastic deformation decreases from 3.2% for the as-cast bulk sample to 1.3% for the sample with 0.8 wt.% H due to the lower free volume after the hydrogenation. The hardness value enlarges slightly with the increase of hydrogen content.

► Zr65Al10Ni10Cu15 amorphous alloy exhibited a fast hydrogen absorption rate.
► The hydrogenated alloy had a negative temperature coefficient of resistivity.
► The electrical resistivities increased with the increasing hydrogen content.
► The compressive strength was not changed apparently by the hydrogenation.
► The plasticity decreased slightly with the increasing hydrogen content.