PROGRESS OF SOLID-STATE REACTION DURING MECHANICAL ALLOYING OF ZR-AL-CU-NI BULK METALLIC GLASS-FORMING ALLOYS

The progress of amorphization in mechanically alloyed Zr65Al7.5Cu17.5N i10 powders has been investigated by X-ray diffractometry, differentia l scanning calorimetry, scanning and transmission electron microscopy and wavelength-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. For this, mixtures of el emental powders were used as starting materials. Detailed investigatio ns of the microstructural evolution during milling indicate that the a morphization proceeds by solid-state reaction, similar to what is know n for mechanical alloying of binary alloy systems and other multicompo nent alloys. The results are compared with interdiffusion experiments on diffusion couples of Zr-Al and Cu-Ni solid solutions isothermally a nnealed at elevated temperatures. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science S.A.