Structural investigation of amorphous FeZr, CoZr and NiZr alloys with low zirconium concentration

Abstract

Abstract A structural investigation has been made of alloy glasses a low concentration of zirconium: compositions M 100− x Zr x with M = Fe, Co and Ni, and x = 9 at.% using X-ray diffraction. The characteristic second peak splitting in the radial distribution function is found for all samples presently investigated. The partial radial distribution functions of amorphous FeZr and CoZr alloys were derived from the measured total distribution function data by applying the concentration method with the anomalous scattering technique. The amplitude in the oscillation of the radial distribution function for M - M and M -Zr pairs is more enhanced in comparison with that of glasses with high Zr content, x = 40–45 at.%. The estimated coordination number of nearest neighbor Fe atoms (11.6 ± 0.5) for iron in the Fe 84 Zr 16 glass is larger than that (10.7 ± 0.5) found in the Fe 83 B 17 glass. This is consistent with the measurements of magnetic properties of these glasses with low zirconium concentration. The possible structural features of intertransition metal alloy glasses with low zirconium concentration is also discussed based on the present experimental data.