In-situ study of crystallization kinetics in ternary bulk metallic glass alloys

Abstract

In-situ transmission electron microcopy and time-resolved neutron diffraction were used to study crystalline kinetics of two ternary bulk metallic glass alloys during isothermal annealing in the supercooled liquid region. It is found that the crystallization of Zr56Cu36Al8, an average glass former, follows continuous nucleation and growth, while that of Zr46Cu46Al8, a better glass former, is characterized by site-saturated nucleation, followed by slow growth. Possible mechanisms for the observed differences and the relationship to the glass forming ability are discussed.