STRUCTURAL AND MAGNETIC PHASE-TRANSITIONS IN FE-ZR-B-AL(-CU) AMORPHOUS AND NANOCRYSTALLINE ALLOYS

Thermo-magnetic studies combined with transmission electron microscopy of Fe87.5Zr6B5.5Al1 and Fe85Zr6B7.5Cu1Al0.5 amorphous and nanocrystal line alloys revealed the precipitation of a single BCC alpha-Fe nanocr ystalline phase during the first stage of crystallization and the form ation of intermetallic phases, the growth of alpha-Fe nanograins and f urther precipitation of alpha-Fe nanograins from the residual amorphou s phase during the second stage of crystallization. The presence of 1 at% Cu in the second alloy accelerates the precipitation of the single nanocrystalline phase during the first stage of crystallization and f acilitates further precipitation of alpha-Fe nanograins from the resid ual amorphous phase during the second stage of crystallization.