Change in the structure of amorphous alloys under high pressure

Abstract

The influence of high pressure on the structure of amorphous alloys based on aluminum, iron, and cobalt is studied by X-ray diffraction, scanning, and transmission electron microscopy. It is found that the exposure of the alloys to a pressure of 5–8 GPa at room temperature leads to various changes in amorphous structures in the dependence on the alloy compositions: separation of initially homogeneous amorphous phase and the formation of a nanoglass, formation of nanocrystals, or does not cause any marked changes in the structure. It is shown that the differences in the deformed structures of the amorphous phase of aluminum- based alloys and alloys based on iron and cobalt are due to different values of the elastic constants of these groups of alloys and different temperature crystallization of the amorphous phase. It is shown that the value and the time of the pressure influence are important factors that determine the change in the amorphous structure and the formation of nanocrystals.