Devitrification sequence map in the glass forming Al-Ni-Gd system

Isothermal devitrification at 250 °C in a series of Al-Ni-Gd (Al = 85-90 at.%) amorphous alloys was systematically investigated using differential scanning calorimetry, X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy techniques. A phase formation sequence map was constructed, which maps a zone of a metastable compound plus face-centered cubic (fcc)-Al, a zone of irregularly shaped fcc-Al nanoparticles, and a zone of spherical fcc-Al nanoparticles within the glass formation range.