Non-isothermal crystallization kinetics of Mg60Zn30Ti5Si5 amorphous alloy prepared by mechanical alloying

Mg60Zn30Ti5Si5 amorphous alloy was prepared via mechanical alloying (MA) and heat treated in different way. X-ray diffractometer (XRD) was used to detect the phases of alloy. The crystallization characteristics and kinetics of amorphous alloy were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Tests reveal that raw materials transform to amorphous alloy after 6 h mechanical alloying; during subsequent heating, MgZn2, Mg2Si and Zn were crystallized in turn. Apparent activation energies (Ea) and local activation energies (El) of non-isothermal crystallization were calculated according to Kissinger and Ozawa models based on DSC data. Results show that Ea3 > Ea2 > Ea1; El1 decreases while El2 increases with crystallization; El3 is almost stable during heating. Avrami parameters (n) indicate that the first devitrification is interface controlled growth and later precipitations are diffusion controlled growth.