Nanocrystallization and Mechanical Properties of Rapidly Solidified Amorphous Al_(86)Ni_6Y_6Ce_2 (at.) Alloy

摘要

Primary crystallization of amorphous Al_(86)Ni_6Y_6Ce_2(at.%) alloy was investigated through differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray diffraction. Moreover, nanoindentation analysis was performed to relate the hardness to the structure of the alloy. The kinetic parameters of the first crystallization process were determined by Kissinger method. The average amount of Avrami exponent (n=1.7±0.21) was concluded the primary crystallization occurred through three dimensional diffusion-controlled growth with decreasing rate. The α-Al nanoparticles 5 8 nm in size homogeneously embedded in the glassy matrix were formed during primary crystallization. Significant changes in the hardness occurred due to the change of the crystalline structures. The hardness of 7.30±0.58 GPa was obtained by annealing at 618 K with a microstructure of Al nanoparticles and Al_3M intermetallic compound in an amorphous matrix.