NEAR-ORDERING STRUCTURAL TRANSITIONS IN AMORPHOUS METAL-ALLOYS

The temperature variations in the modulus of elasticity (Young's modul us) E and internal friction Q(-1) of the amorphous metal alloys Ti50Cu 50-xNix (5 less than or equal to x less than or equal to 20) are studi ed at temperatures of 300-800 K. There is an anomalous increase in E(T ) at temperatures above T-x (which varies from 440 to 525 K, depending on the composition). When the amount of nickel in the alloy is high ( x > 12 at. %), a small peak shows up in Q(-1)(T). These effects are re lated to structural transitions in near-ordering regions (clusters). A model for structural relaxation of near ordering in amorphous alloys is proposed on the basis of these experiments. (C) 1998 American Insti tute of Physics. [S1063-7834(98)00203-2].