Non-equilibrium alloy formation in the Ag-Zr system by ion beam mixing

Based on Miedema's model, a Gibbs free energy diagram was first constructed for the Ag-Zr system and showed that the free energy of the Ag-Zr multilayered films could be higher than that of the corresponding supersaturated solid solutions and amorphous phase. Ion beam mixing with Ag90Zr10, Ag48Zr52 and Ag12Zr88 multilayered films was then conducted by 200 keV xenon ions. It was found that an fcc supersaturated solid solution, a mixture of fcc and hcp metastable crystalline structures and an hcp supersaturated solid solution were formed and that amorphous phases were also observed to coexist with the metastable crystalline structures. The experimental observations concerning the non-equilibrium alloy formation matched well with the calculated Gibbs free energy diagram.