Study on crystallization behavior in zirconium-based bulk amorphous alloy after cobalt implantation

• Non-isothermal crystallization behaviors of Zr55Cu30Ni5Al10 bulk metallic glass after Co ion implantation were studied via a differential scanning calorimeter.
• Co ion implantation enhances the thermal stability of the amorphous alloy.
• Crystallization mechanisms of the bulk implanted by Co ions are typical nucleations and growths.
• Growths of crystalline grains dominate the total time of the crystallization processes.

The non-thermal crystallization behaviors of a Zr55Cu30Ni5Al10 bulk metallic glass implanted by Co ions during continuous heating were studied via Kissinger and Ozawa methods. Crystallization behavior changes from single-stage precipitation process to two-stage precipitation process after Co ion implantation. With the increase of the heating rates, all thermodynamic parameters shift to higher temperatures and the super-cooled liquid region increases gradually. Co ion implantation can enhance the thermal stability, but has not changed the kinetic effects. With temperatures increasing, the crystallization ratio drops. With crystallization volume fraction increasing, the local activation energy descends. The crystallization mechanisms are typical nucleation and growths. The growths of crystalline grains dominate the total time of the crystallization processes.