On The Effect of Au Addition and the Role of B on Nanocrystallization of Fe-Zr-B Amorphous Alloy

Abstract

AbstractUsing atom probe field ion microscopy (APFIM) we examined the local chemical compositions of Fe-7Zr-5B-lAu and Fe-14B amorphous alloys in the course of primary crystallization. Au rich clusters are formed during primary crystallization of Fe-7Zr-5B-lAu alloy. However, these clusters do not act as nucleation sites for α-Fe particles. In the early stage of primary crystallization, heterogeneities of Fe and B evolve in the amorphous phase. Heterogeneous distribution of B was found in the as-melt-spun Fe-14B amorphous alloy. During primary crystallization, B is highly supersaturated not only in the nanometer sized α-Fe particles in Fe-7Zr-5B-lAu alloy, but also in those of large diameters in Fe-14B alloy. From the results it is concluded that presence of B lowers the nucleation barrier for primary crystallization.