Formation of Amorphous Metallic Alloys by Solid-State Reactions

Abstract

AbstractFor the last 25 years, amorphous metallic alloys have been prepared by the rapid quenching of melts. Recently, new methods of synthesis based on isothermal solid-state reactions have been developed. It has further been shown that the reaction products can be predicted from free energy diagrams that treat the amorphous alloy as an undercooled liquid. These discoveries have opened new windows to the synthesis of novel metastable materials, both amorphous and crystalline. This paper reviews the basic concepts behind amorphization by solid-state reactions and discusses our current understanding of the nucleation and growth of the amorphous alloy.