Crystallization behaviour and mechanical properties of rapidly solidified Al87.5Ni7Mm5Fe0.5 amorphous alloy

The crystallization behaviour and the mechanical properties of rapidly solidified Al87.5Ni7Mm5Fe0.5 alloy ribbons have been examined in both as-melt-spun and heat-treated condition using differential scanning calorimetry, X-ray diffractometry (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), tensile testing and Vicker’s microhardness machine. XRD and TEM studies revealed that the as-melt-spun ribbons are fully amorphous. The amorphous ribbon undergoes three-stage crystallization process upon heating. Primary crystallization resulted in the formation of fine nanocrystalline fcc-Al particles embedded in the amorphous matrix. The second and third crystallization stages correspond to the precipitation of Al11(La,Ce)3 and Al3Ni phases, respectively. Microhardness and tensile strength of the ribbons were examined with the variation of temperature and subsequently correlated with the evolved structure. Initially, the microhardness of the ribbon increases with temperature followed by a sharp drop in hardness owing to the decomposition of amorphous matrix that leads to formation of intermetallic compounds