Glass forming ability and stability: Ternary Cu bearing Ti, Zr, Hf alloys

Four Cu bearing alloys of nominal composition Zr(25)Ti(25)Cu(50), Zr(34)Ti(16)Cu(50), Zr(25)Hf(25)Cu(50) and Ti(25)Hf(25)Cu(50) have been rapidly solidified in order to produce ribbons. All the alloys become amorphous after meltspinning. In the Zr(34)Ti(16)Cu(50) alloy localized precipitation of cF24 Cu(5)Zr phase can be observed in the amorphous matrix. The alloys show a tendency of phase separation at the initial stages of crystallization. The difference in crystallization behavior of these alloys with Ni bearing ternary alloys can be explained by atomic size, binary heat of mixing and Mendeleev number. It has been observed that both Laves and Anti-Laves phase forming compositions are suitable for glass formation. The structures of the phases, precipitated during rapid solidification and crystallization can be viewed in terms of Bernal deltahedra and Frank-Kasper polyhedra. Published by Elsevier Ltd.