Segregation-controlled nanocrystallization in an Al–Ni–La metallic glass

The early stages of devitrification of Al89Ni6La5 metallic glass were investigated using
three-dimensional atom probe. Even in the as-quenched amorphous state, nanometer-sized
fluctuations of Ni and Al were observed. The Al-rich fluctuations act as nucleation sites for the
crystallization at 443 K in which -Al clusters with a number density up to 51023 m−3 nucleate
and grow to nonspherical, 12 nm large crystals. -Al particles are almost pure in Al and are
surrounded by a La-rich shell. It is concluded that La segregation controls the growth and limits the
size of the -Al nanocrystals. © 2008 American Institute of Physics. DOI: 10.1063/1.2897303