SANS OF BULK METALLIC ZRTICUNIBE GLASSES

The evolution of decomposition and succeeding primary crystallization in the bulk amorphous Zr41.2Ti13.8Cu12.5Ni10Be22.5 alloy have been stu died by small-angle neutron scattering. Samples annealed isothermally in the supercooled liquid and in the solid-state exhibit correlation p eaks indicating quasiperiodic inhomogeneities in the scattering length density. The peak positions vary as a function of temperature as pred icted by the linear Cahn-Hilliard theory of spinodal decomposition. Va riations of the Be-Ti composition ratio of the alloy leads to signific ant changes in scattering signals. The initially homogeneous alloy sep arates into two amorphous phases. In the decomposed regions, crystalli zation probability increases leading to polymorphic crystallization. P ublished by Elsevier Science B.V.