Neutron Diffraction Study on the Structure of the Metallic Glass Cu57Zr43

Abstract

The structure of amorphous Cu57Zr43 has been investigated by neutron diffraction using the isotopic substitution method with the isotopes 63Cu and 65Cu besides natural Cu. From the scattering contribution of concentration fluctuations to the measured structure factors and from the atomic distances chemical ordering is concluded to exist in amorphous Cu57Zr43. The structural results are compared with previous experimental and theoretical investigations of Cu- Zr- and other binary metallic glasses formed by transition metals. Evidence is given that the topological as well as the chemical short range order is asymmetric in respect to both components in this type of metallic glasses