Crystallization of the Amorphous Zr₇₀Cu₂₀Ni₁₀ Alloy

Crystallization behaviour of amorphous the Zr₇₀Cu₂₀Ni₁₀ alloy within the supercooled liquid region has been investigated by means of differential scan calorimetry (DSC) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). It is found that the relationship between the incubation time, which is necessary for amorphous Zr₇₀Cu₂₀Ni₁₀ alloy to nucleate and grow, and the annealing temperature obeys an exponential function. Similar relationship can also be observed between the peak time corresponding to the minimum of the exothermic reaction in the DSC scan and the annealing temperature. TEM observations confirm that the first exothermic peak in the DSC trace of amorphous Zr₇₀Cu₂₀Ni₁₀ alloy mainly corresponds to the precipitation of the Zr₂Cu phase, while the second one mainly corresponds to the precipitation of the nanoscale Zr₂Ni phase.