Crystallization of amorphous Cu47Ti34Zr11Ni8

The results of a study on the crystallization of amorphous Cu47Ti34Zr11Ni8 with the use of differential scanning calorimetry, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), x-ray diffraction, field ion microscopy, atom probe tomography (APT), and small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) are presented. These experimental techniques were used to characterize as-prepared samples and specimens heat treated at different temperatures around the glass transition temperature. APT and SANS show that the alloy decomposes into copper-enriched and titanium-enriched regions prior to nucleation and growth of a crystalline phase. TEM shows that the primary nucleating phase has a face centered cubic structure. (C) 2001 American Institute of Physics.