Nanocrystallization of Cu–(Zr or Hf)–Ti metallic glasses

Abstract

Crystallization of the Cu60Zr30Ti10 and Cu60Hf25Ti15 metallic glasses was studied by x-ray diffractometry, transmission electron microscopy, differential scanning and isothermal calorimetries. Metastable Cu–Zr–Ti and Cu–Hf–Ti cubic phases primarily precipitated in the Cu60Zr30Ti10 and Cu60Hf25Ti15 metallic glasses. The Cu60Zr30Ti10metallic glass crystallizes with low energy barrier for nucleation while crystallization of the Cu60Hf25Ti15 metallic glass takes place by nucleation and diffusion-controlled growth of cubic Cu–Hf–Ti phase particles with constant nucleation rate. The Cu60Hf25Ti15 metallic glass is characterized by a low activation energy for nucleation.