Si-alloying effect on glass-forming ability and crystallization behavior of Zr72.5Al10Fe17.5 metallic glass

The glass-forming ability (GFA) and crystallization behavior of (Zr72.6Al10Fe17.5)(100-x)Si-x alloys, where x = 0.0, 0.2, 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0, were elucidated with varying Si addition. The GFA and thermal stability initially increase and reach the maxima with x = 0.2 before it shows a subsequent decrease. The GFA was dominated by the high atomic packing density, while the thermal stability was up to the free volume concentration, which is closely related to the enthalpy changes during structural relaxation. The crystallization products of the alloys with Si addition are identical and are determined to be Zr6Al2Fe, alpha-Zr, and FeZr2, accompanying by a more distinct separation of the crystallization behavior in the DSC traces. It was attributed to the fact that the effects of Si addition on the crystallization activation energy for Zr6Al2Fe, alpha-Zr, and FeZr2 are significantly different.

Automated summary

The glass-forming ability and thermal stability of (Zr72.6Al10Fe17.5)(100-x)Si-x alloys were studied with different Si additions, showing optimal values at x = 0.2 before decreasing. The effects of Si addition on the crystallization products and behavior of the alloys were found to be significantly different.