Glass-forming ability and differences in the crystallization behavior of ribbons and rods of Cu36Zr48Al8Ag8 bulk glass-forming alloy

Abstract

The crystallization behavior of melt-spun ribbons and bulk samples of the Cu36Zr48Al8Ag8 glassy alloy on heating is presented here. The crystallization kinetics and structural changes in the Cu36Zr48Al8Ag8 glassy alloy were studied using x-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, differential scanning, and isothermal calorimetry methods. A clear comparison is made of the differences in the crystallization kinetics of the melt-spun ribbons and the copper-mold-cast bulk rod samples. It was suggested that the kinetics of crystallization in the rod sample, at any given temperature, are somewhat different than in the ribbon samples, probably because of size and free volume effects. Differences in the crystallization behavior of this alloy with other Cu-Zr-Al-Ag alloys have also been discussed.