AMORPHIZATION OF ZR-FE MULTILAYERS OBSERVED BY INSITU X-RAY AND MAGNETIZATION MEASUREMENTS

Completely amorphous Zr-Fe alloys have been prepared in the middle concentration range by solid state reaction of Zr/Fe elemental multilayers. After the reaction is completed, layers of two amorphous phases with concentrations of about 33 and 62 at.% iron respectively are formed, as can be seen by cross-sectional transmission electron microscopy. The reaction itself was monitored in situ by X-ray diffraction experiments as well as by magnetization measurements at temperatures of 200-330°C. At all temperatures two different diffusion-controlled processes were observed and the interdiffusion constants have been determined. From these values an activation energy of about 2.3 ev was calculated for this diffusion process, assuming an Arrhenius-type behavior.