Electron-Irradiation Induced Phase Transformation of Amorphous, Supercooled Liquid and Crystalline Phases in Zr66.7Cu33.3 Metallic Glass

Electron-irradiation induced phase transformation of amorphous, supercooled liquid and crystalline phases in Zr66.7Cu33.3 alloy was investigated. The amorphous phase and supercooled liquid were not stable under 2.0 MV electron-irradiation, and electron-irradiation induced crystallization occurred. The C11b-Zr2Cu crystalline phase was precipitated from the supercooled liquid phase and the amorphous phase at and above 552 K, while an f.c.c. solid solution was precipitated from the amorphous phase at and below 298 K. Crystal-to-glass or crystal-to-supercooled liquid transition of the C11b-Zr2Cu crystalline phase in Zr66.7Cu33.3 metallic glass was not observed at and above 552 K. Phase stability of crystalline phases against electron-irradiation is a dominant factor for phase selection in electron-irradiation induced crystallization of Zr66.7Cu33.3 metallic glass.