Crystallization behaviour of Al-based amorphous alloy and nanocomposites by rapid quenching

The microstructure and crystallization behaviour of melt-spun Al88Ni9Ce2Fe1 amorphous alloy and nanophase composites have been studied by means of X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy and scanning and isothermal calorimetry. The diffraction patterns from Al88Ni9Ce2Fe1 amorphous alloys are diffuse, indicating a basically amorphous structure but contain two rings presumed to be associated with quenched-in nuclei. In the cases of Al88Ni9Ce2Fe1 nanophase composites, nanoscale precipitated particles are homogeneously dispersed in an amorphous matrix, and the crystallite diameter and Volume fraction are sensitive to quenching conditions. During thermal crystallization, a two-step phase transformation occurs in the amorphous alloy and nanocomposites, which is characterized by a diffusion-controlled precipitation of nanoscale Al particles and the growth of a Al-3(Ni, Fe) nanophase prior to a Al11Ce3 nanophase. This study gives insight into structure-control for obtaining nanophases dispersed in an amorphous matrix by rapid quenching.