The Effect of Cobalt Addition on Microstructural Variation in Melt Spun ZR-Al-Cu-Ni Alloys

Abstract

The multicomponent Zr-Al-Cn-Ni system exhibits bulk metallic glass forming ability [1] Addition of varieties of elements to Zr-Al-Cn-Ni reveals different phases in as cast condition. The rapidly solidification and consecutive heat treatment of this system show dispersion of cryst-alline phases in the amorphous matrix. Phase evaluation process in this system is strongly dependent on additive and heat treatment steps. The present work explores the addition of cobalt into Zr-Al-Cu-Ni bulk metallic glass. It aims at producing nano composites through the process of crystallization from amorphous based alloys. General alloy composition is chosen as Zr70Al10Cu11Ni9-xCox with X=0, 0.5,3 to see the effect of cobalt on microstructural variation in melt spun ZR-Al-Cu-Ni alloys. Three alloys such as Zr70Al10Cu11Ni9, Zr70Al10-Cu11Ni85Co05, Zr70Al10-Cu11Ni6Co3 are studied in as cast and melt spun condi-tions. The samples are characterized by optical microscope(OM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX), differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) and trans-mission electron microscope (TEM). Details of the results will be discussed in view of the phase formations by TEM study.