In-situ studies of primary nucleation and growth of the cubic Al19Fe4MnSi2 phase in an Al-Fe-Mn-Si metallic glass

The crystallization process of amorphous/glassy alloys below the glass transition temperature when the diffusion processes are hampered is of great interest for study. Here, we measured the growth rate of a crystalline phase with a complex cubic structure in the Al-Fe-Mn-Si metallic glass near the crystallization temperature in-situ by using transmission electron microscopy. We estimated the effective diffusion coefficient that is likely related to the slowest diffusing element (Mn). The results are compared with the crystallization of different other amorphous/glassy alloys considering the reduced crystallization temperature. Notwithstanding of the compo-sitional difference from the matrix growth of the crystalline phase is significantly faster than can be estimated from the corresponding diffusion coefficients found for pure Al and AlFe compound.

Automated summary

In this study, the growth rate of a crystalline phase in the Al-Fe-Mn-Si metallic glass was measured in real time using transmission electron microscopy. The effective diffusion coefficient related to the slowest diffusing element (Mn) was estimated. The results showed that the growth rate of the crystalline phase was significantly faster compared to pure Al and AlFe compound.