Nanoparticles in an amorphous Zr55Al10Cu30Ni5 matrix - The formation of composites by mechanical alloying

Mechanical alloying of pure elemental powders blended with W, Y2O3 and SiO2 particles was used to synthesize nanoscale composites consisting of an amo rphous Zr55Al10Cu30Ni5 matrix with a homogeneous dispersion of nanoparticle s. The powders are characterized by x-ray diffraction, calorimetric measure ments, thermal mechanical analysis and testing the microhardness. The amorp hous matrix exhibits an extended supercooled liquid region before crystalli zation The supercooled liquid region is not significantly reduced due to th e addition of nanocrystalline particles whereas the viscosity of the compos ites increases with increasing volume fraction of nanoscaled particles with in the amorphous matrix.