Crystallization of Zr60Fe20Cu20 amorphous alloy

Amorphous structure and phase transformations of the rapidly solidified Zr60Fe20Cu20 alloy have been investigated by the DSC, in-situ high temperature XRD and EXAFS techniques. The performed experiments on the amorphous alloy proved significantly shorter Zr–Fe and Zr–Cu distances than those expected from the hard sphere atom model, corroborating strong bonding between Zr and transition elements. The crystallization of Zr60Cu20Fe20 amorphous alloy underwent three-stage process. The formation of stable cubic Zr(Cu, Fe) and tetragonal Zr2(Cu, Fe) phases was confirmed and the formation of a quasicrystalline phase was suggested.