Glass forming ability and thermal stability of Ni63Cu9Fe8P20 melt spun ribbon

A nickel–copper–iron–phosphorus Ni63Cu9Fe8P20 alloy was prepared. The precursors were induction melted in tubes under vacuum (10−2 bar). The microstructure of the alloy was investigated by use of light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). Analysis of the morphology was carried out and the volume fraction of microstructural constituents in as-cast state was assessed. The melt spinning was used to produce ribbons from the alloy. The ribbons were then investigated by means of differential thermal analysis (DTA). High temperature X-ray studies of melt-spun ribbons as a function of temperature were carried out in order to characterize thermal stability of the alloy. The results were discussed and compared with other experimental data.