Icosahedral phase formation in Ag-substituted Ti–Zr–Ni rapidly-quenched alloys

The formation of icosahedral phases in Ag-substituted Ti–Zr–Ni alloys was investigated by in situ annealing diffraction experiments using synchrotron radiation. The as-quenched (Ti1−xAgx)–Zr–Ni alloys (x=2, 5, 7 and 10 at.%) are amorphous and/or in a mixed nanostructured state. Upon heating, the Ti–Zr–Ni–Ag alloys transform to either a crystalline or a quasicrystalline state, depending on the Ag content. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) studies were performed to identify the nature and sequence of the phase transitions.