Crystallization of Al–Mg–Ce and Al–Mg–Ni–Ce amorphous alloys

The crystallization behaviors of Al82Mg10Ce8, Al84Mg10Ce6, Al82Mg6Ni4Ce8, Al84Mg7Ni3Ce6 and Al84Mg8Ni2Ce6 amorphous alloys have been studied by different scanning calorimetry (DSC) and X-ray diffraction. Al82Mg10Ce8 and Al84Mg10Ce6 amorphous alloys are characteristic of an interesting crystallization behavior. A non-equilibrium phase Al92Ce8 precipitates in the first stage crystallization as primary phase. In the subsequent crystallization stage, Al92Ce8 phase decomposes into fcc-Al and Al4Ce phases, at the same time, Al12Mg17 phase precipitates. Strikingly, a small Ni addition can promote the primary crystallization of fcc-Al, as example obtained in Al82Mg6Ni4Ce8, Al84Mg7Ni3Ce6 and Al84Mg8Ni2Ce6 amorphous alloys. This interesting crystallization mechanism can be well interpreted in terms of the heat of mixing.