Pressure-induced crystallization in a bulk amorphous Zr-based alloy

Crystallization of multi-component on amorphous Zr-based alloy (Zr41Ti14Cu12.5Ni9Be22.5Cl) is investigated at different pressures and temperatures. We have previously found that the primary crystallization temperature decreases with increasing pressure below 6 GPa, and the crystallization follows a different process under high pressure when compared to that at ambient pressure. In this work, pressure-induced crystallization is observed by in situ X-ray diffraction (XRD) using synchrotron radiation in a diamond anvil cell at similar to25 GPa and room temperature. This phase transition between amorphous and crystalline is reversible and the crystallized sample returns to the amorphous state during decompression. The mechanism for pressure-induced crystallization is discussed. We suggest that the crystallized phases under high pressure are interstitial solid solution phases formed from the amorphous matrix without long-range atomic rearrangements. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.