Evolution of the primary crystals and the amorphous matrix following annealing of a bulk Zr56.6Cu17.3Ni12.5Al9.6Ti4 metallic glass

The phase evolution in the transition region of a bulk Zr56.6Cu17.3Ni12.5Al9.6Ti4 amorphous alloy wedge-ingot upon annealing has been studied. The result shows that the primary crystallized metastable phase and the amorphous matrix were found to crystallize into different products. Concerning the solidification process, it is deduced that the understanding of the competitive relationships among the intermetallic phases and the amorphous phase can be described by the phase analyses of solidification, rather than the widespread investigations of the crystallization by annealing.