Liquid phase separation and microstructure characterization in a designed Al-based amorphous matrix composite with spherical crystalline particles

The solidification process of the immiscible alloys exhibit a unique opportunity in designing the composites with the spherical crystalline particles dispersed in the amorphous metal matrix. The typical Al–Pb immiscible alloy and the additional elements Ni, Y and Co were selected, and the Al82.87Pb2.5Ni4.88Y7.8Co1.95 multicomponent immiscible alloy has been designed. The ribbon samples of the multicomponent alloy were prepared by using the melt spinning technique. The ribbons were characterized by the scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The phase constitution and transformation were studied by the X-ray diffraction (XRD) and the differential scanning calorimeter (DSC). It was revealed in the as-quenched ribbons the Al-based metallic glass matrix is embedded by the spherical crystalline Pb-rich particles. The microstructure evolution, the glass formation and the thermal stability of the as-prepared composite have been discussed in detail. A method has been developed based on the mechanism of the liquid–liquid phase transformation in the miscibility gap of the multicomponent immiscible alloy to produce the spherical crystalline particles in the amorphous matrix.