Ion irradiation induced nanocrystal formation in amorphous Zr55Cu30Al10Ni5 alloy

Ion irradiation can be used to induce partial crystallization in metallic glasses to improve their surface properties. We investigated the microstructural changes in ribbon Zr55Cu30Al10Ni5 metallic glass after 1 MeV Cu-ion irradiation at room temperature, to a fluence of 1.0 × 1016 cm−2. In contrast to a recent report by others that there was no irradiation induced crystallization in the same alloy [S. Nagata, S. Higashi, B. Tsuchiya, K. Toh, T. Shikama, K. Takahiro, K. Ozaki, K. Kawatusra, S. Yamamoto, A. Inouye, Nucl. Instr. and Meth. B 257 (2007) 420], we have observed nanocrystals in the as-irradiated samples. Two groups of nanocrystals, one with diameters of 5–10 nm and another with diameters of 50–100 nm are observed by using high resolution transmission electron microscopy. Experimentally measured planar spacings (d-values) agree with the expectations for Cu10Zr7, NiZr2 and CuZr2 phases. We further discussed the possibility to form a substitutional intermetallic (NixCu1−x)Zr2 phase.