Influences of melt superheat treatment on glass forming ability and properties of Al84Ni10La6 alloy

Al84Ni10La6 alloy ribbons were prepared at different cooling rate and melt superheat temperature by vacuum arc melting and single roller melt-spinning devices. The glass forming ability and properties of Al84Ni10La6 alloy were investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), electrochemical potentiodynamic polarization test and hardness test. The results reveal that the melt superheat treatment enhances the glass forming ability of this alloy, and also has beneficial influences on its thermal stability, corrosion resistance and hardness. Simultaneously, the melt structure becomes homogeneous, dense and disordered, and shows a nonlinear relationship with melt temperature, indicating its uniform melt feature and inhomogeneous change respectively with the increase of the melt temperature.

► The melt superheat can enhance glass forming ability of Al84Ni10La6 alloy.
► Thermal stability, corrosion resistance and hardness increase with melt temperature.
► The change of properties above shows nonlinear relationship with temperature.
► The intrinsic link between amorphous alloy and melt structure was studied initially.