Initial stages in the decay of the amorphous phase in the bulk metallic glass Zr-Cu-Ti

Using methods of x-ray diffraction analysis, differential scanning calorime try, dilatometry, and transmission electron microscopy, we have investigate d the initial stages of decay of the amorphous phase in a bulk metallic gla ss based on zirconium. We found that crystallization of the bulk metallic g lass proceeds in several stages, where in the first stage the bulk conversi on effect is equal to more than 1.6%, or about 80% of the total bulk crysta llization effect. We showed that the first stage of decay of the amorphous phase in the bulk metallic glass Zr29Ti11Cu60 leads to the formation of a n anocrystalline structure with a grain size of 1-5 nm. We have analyzed the change in the shape of the diffraction maximum during the formation of the very fine nanocrystalline structure. (C) 1999 American Institute of Physics . [S1063-7834(99)00107-0].