Influence of Ag replacement on supercooled liquid region and icosahedral phase precipitation of Zr65Al7.5Ni10Cu17.5-xAgx (x = 0–17.5 at%) glassy alloys

Abstract

The glass transition phenomenon for Zr65Al7.5Ni10Cu17.5-xAgx (x = 5–17.5 at%) glassy alloys was observed in the Ag content range below about 15% and the icosahedral phase precipitated as the heating-induced primary phase in the limited Ag content range. In the higher Ag content range where glass transition is not clearly observed, the primary precipitation phase changed to mixed phases of tetragonal Zr3Ag + tetragonal Zr2Ni + hexagonal Zr4Al3. The good correspondence between the appearance of glass transition and the icosahedral phase precipitation was recognized in the multicomponent glassy alloys containing the immiscible type atomic pairs of Ni-Ag and Cu-Ag. Although neither glass transition nor supercooled liquid region is observed for Zr65Al7.5Ni10Ag17.5 and no icosahedral phase is formed, a modified Zr65Al7.5Ni17.5Ag10 alloy with higher Ni/Ag content ratio exhibits glass transition and supercooled liquid region and the primary precipitates also changes to an icosahedral phase. The good correspondence can be interpreted on the basis of the previous knowledge that the appearance of glass transition and supercooled liquid state originates from icosahedral-like medium range ordered atomic configurations. Besides, the 6%Ag-containing alloy keeps high glass-forming ability which is high enough to form a bulk glassy alloy rod of 6 mm by suction casting. The close correlation between the appearance of glass transition phenomenon and the primary precipitation of icosahedral phase is expected to provide a useful knowledge on the role of icosahedral-like atomic configuration in the achievement of bulk glass-forming ability through the stabilization of supercooled liquid.