Zr and Hf microalloying in an Al–Y–Fe amorphous alloy. Relation between local structure and glass-forming ability

Abstract

The effects of the addition of small amounts of Zr and Hf (0.5–3%) on the atomic structure of Al88Y7Fe5 metallic glass were examined from extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) experiments to better understand the influence of these microadditions on the glass-forming ability of this alloy. Measurements at the Zr K and Hf LIII absorption edges allowed the local structures around Zr and Hf atoms to be determined. The same Al environment was found for the different concentrations, consisting of a small cluster extending up to 4.5 Å around the Zr atoms and up to 6 Å around the Hf ones. Although the clustering effect is smaller in the Zr neighbourhood, a drastic shortening of the nearest Zr–Al distance is shown, providing evidence for some covalent character to the bonding, in line with the increased glass-forming ability found in the alloys made with the Zr microaddition.