Effect of Nb on the glass-forming ability of mechanically alloyed Fe–Ni–Zr–B alloys

Abstract

Glass formation by mechanical alloying was achieved in a multicomponent Fe-based alloy system of composition Fe 42 Ni 28 Zr 10− x Nb x B 20 . It was shown that addition of Nb has increased the glass-forming ability, measured in terms of the milling time required to produce the alloy in the glassy state. This effect seems to be most prominent when 2 at.% Nb was added. Additionally, it was noted that glass formation was accompanied by contraction of the crystalline lattice.