Formation and structure of nanocrystals in bulk Zr<Subscript>50</Subscript>Ti<Subscript>16</Subscript>Cu<Subscript>15</Subscript>Ni<Subscript>19</Subscript> metallic glass

The possible formation of a nanocrystalline structure in controlled crystallization of a bulk Zr₅₀Ti₁₆Cu₁₅Ni₁₉ amorphous alloy has been studied using differential scanning calorimetry, transmission and high-resolution electron microscopy, and x-ray diffraction. It was established that crystallization of the alloy at temperatures above the glass formation point occurs in two stages and brings about the formation of a nanocrystalline structure consisting of three phases. Local spectral x-ray analysis identified the composition and structure of the phases formed.     

Magnetic properties and the magnetoimpedance effect of nanostructured Fe<Subscript>73.5</Subscript>Si<Subscript>16.5</Subscript>B<Subscript>6</Subscript>Nb<Subscript>3</Subscript>Cu<Subscript>1</Subscript> ribbons with induced magnetic anisotropy

The structure and magnetic properties and the magnetoimpedance effect of nanocrystalline Fe_73.5Si_16.5B₆Nb₃Cu₁ alloy ribbons, obtained from the amorphous state by annealing under different conditions, were comparatively analyzed. Despite the similarity of the samples’ structural states and the processes of their quasi-static magnetization reversal, the features of the magnetoimpedance effect are indicative of significant differences in the processes of their dynamic magnetization.     

Magnetic and Mössbauer Studies of Fe<Subscript>76</Subscript>Mo<Subscript>8</Subscript>Cu<Subscript>1</Subscript>B<Subscript>15</Subscript> Nanocrystalline Alloy

The influence of different degrees of crystallinity on the magnetic behaviour of heat-treated nanocrystalline Fe₇₆Mo₈Cu₁B₁₅ alloy has been investigated using a combination of Mössbauer spectrometry and magnetic measurements. The evolution of magnetically active regions and their growth with rising contents of nanocrystals are followed by distributions of hyperfine interactions. Combined electric quadrupole and magnetic dipole interactions corresponding to non-magnetic and magnetic regions inside the amorphous phase, respectively, were revealed. A deterioration of the soft-magnetic properties takes place for the samples exhibiting low fraction of crystallinity. The very good soft-magnetic behaviour is regained for the samples where the primary crystallization process is almost finished.     

Effect of heat treatment on the structure and elastic properties of a bulk Pd<Subscript>40</Subscript>Cu<Subscript>30</Subscript>Ni<Subscript>10</Subscript>P<Subscript>20</Subscript> metallic glass

The effect of heat treatment over the range from room temperature to 500°C on the elastic properties of a bulk amorphous Pd₄₀Cu₃₀Ni₁₀P₂₀ alloy was studied. It is shown that the increase in the shear modulus under crystallization of the alloy is two-staged and that the most significant increase in the modulus occurs at the second stage. The obtained results are compared to the x-ray structural data. It is also found that the density characteristics of the as-cast material change very slightly during the transformation from the amorphous to the crystal state, with the density decreasing slightly due to crystallization.     

Effect of plastic deformation on physical properties and structure of the shape memory alloy Ti<Subscript>49.5</Subscript>Ni<Subscript>50.5</Subscript>

The effect of severe plastic deformation by torsion (SPDT) in Bridgman anvils at a high pressure (6 GPa) on the physical properties and crystal structure of the shape memory alloy Ti_49.5Ni_50.5 has been studied. The behavior of the thermal expansion, electrical resistivity, absolute differential thermopower, Hall coefficient, magnetic properties, and optical characteristics of the amorphous/nanocrystalline and submicrocrystalline alloys obtained by the SPDT with subsequent heat treatment at 800 K has been discussed.     

Features of the formation of an oxide layer on the surface of amorphous Zr<Subscript>41.2</Subscript>Ti<Subscript>13.8</Subscript>Cu<Subscript>12.5</Subscript>Ni<Subscript>10.0</Subscript>Be<Subscript>22.5</Subscript> alloy

Field investigations were performed into the nature of oxidation of Zr_41.2Ti_13.8Cu_12.5Ni_10.0Be_22.5 alloy (Vitreloy-1), a new alloy highly promising for in -vessel mirrors of the ITER (International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor). The main methods of investigation were X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and multi-angle ellipsometry. The resistance of the optical properties of Vitreloy-1 against radiation impact was explained by the oxidation of the surface layer, based on the features of the diffusion process in amorphous alloys and of interaction between amorphous metal alloys with hydrogen.     

Martensitic transformation and electrical properties of a Ni<Subscript>2.14</Subscript>Mn<Subscript>0.81</Subscript>Fe<Subscript>0.05</Subscript>Ga alloy in its different structural states

Phase transformations in a Ni_2.14Mn_0.81Fe_0.05Ga alloy in different structural states are studied from the temperature dependences of its electrical resistivity. The dependences obtained indicate that, in the coarse-grained state, this alloy undergoes two structural phase transformations: intermartensitic modulation transformation and martensite-austenite transformation. In the nanocrystalline state, these transformations are absent. The recrystallization of a nanocrystalline sample at 773 K for 30 min results in the martensite-austenite transformation; however, the phase transformation related to a change in the martensite modulation period does not occur in this state. The resistivity is shown to depend on the structural state of the alloy.     

Dependence of the optical properties of Fe<Subscript>78</Subscript>Si<Subscript>10</Subscript>B<Subscript>12</Subscript> amorphous alloy on its structural state

The optical properties of Fe₇₈Si₁₀B₁₂ ferromagnetic alloy in amorphous, crystalline, and intermediate structural states have been investigated by ellipsometry in the spectral range of 0.22–18 μm. It is established that alloy crystallization leads to a significant change in the optical constants and the frequency dependences of the dielectric functions calculated based on these optical constants. The structural reconstruction under heat treatment leads to an increase in the intensity and shift of interband absorption bands. The plasma and relaxation frequencies of conduction electrons are determined; their numerical values also depend on the degree of atomic ordering.     

Nanocrystallization of an amorphous Fe<Subscript>80</Subscript>B<Subscript>20</Subscript> alloy during severe plastic deformation

The structural evolution of an amorphous Fe₈₀B₂₀ alloy subjected to severe plastic deformation at room temperature or at 200°C was studied. Deformation leads to the formation of α-Fe nanocrystals in an amorphous phase. After room-temperature deformation, nanocrystals are localized in shear bands. After deformation at 200°C, the nanocrystal distribution over the alloy is more uniform. Possible causes of the crystallization of the amorphous phase during severe plastic deformation are discussed.     

Temperature dependence of the magnetic properties and magnetoimpedance of nanocrystalline Fe<Subscript>73.5</Subscript>Si<Subscript>16.5</Subscript>B<Subscript>6</Subscript>Nb<Subscript>3</Subscript>Cu<Subscript>1</Subscript> ribbons

The temperature dependences of the magnetic properties and the magnetoimpedance effect of soft magnetic nanocrystalline Fe_73.5Si_16.5B₆Nb₃Cu₁ alloy ribbons are studied in the temperature range 24–160°C. A high temperature sensitivity of the impedance and the magnetoimpedance effect of the ribbons are detected in the ac frequency range 0.1–50 MHz. At an ac frequency of 50 MHz, the change in the impedance reaches 0.2 Ω/°C (0.5%/°C) in the temperature range 85–160°C. When the temperature increases, a monotonically decreasing character of the dependence of the magnetoimpedance effect on the applied magnetic field changes into a dependence having an increasing initial segment. The effect of temperature on the magnetoimpedance properties of the soft magnetic nanocrystalline ribbons is shown to result from temperature-induced changes in their electrical conductivity, magnetization, and effective magnetic anisotropy.     

Properties of ferromagnetic resonance in Fe<Subscript>73.5</Subscript>CuNb<Subscript>3</Subscript>Si<Subscript>13.5</Subscript>B<Subscript>9</Subscript> nanocrystalline alloys

The structural properties and parameters of ferromagnetic resonance have been studied for Fe_73.5CuNb₃Si_13.5B₉ nanocrystalline alloys produced from the initial amorphous state via annealing under different conditions. The dependence of the linewidth of the ferromagnetic resonance on the grain size ΔH ∼ D ⁶ has been found. The result is discussed within the framework of the random magnetic anisotropy model.     

Influence of the special features of the effective magnetic anisotropy on the temperature dependences of the magnetoimpedance of nanocrystalline Fe<Subscript>73.5</Subscript>Si<Subscript>16.5</Subscript>B<Subscript>6</Subscript>Nb<Subscript>3</Subscript>Cu<Subscript>1</Subscript> strips

The influence of the thermal treatment type on the temperature dependences of the magnetoimpedance of nanocrystalline Fe_73.5Si_16.5B₆Nb₃Cu₁ alloy strips is investigated. The main mechanisms determining the temperature behavior of the magnetoimpedance of strips with induced magnetic anisotropy having various special features are established. The prospects for application of the alloy strips nanocrystallized in the presence of a magnetic field as sensitive elements of temperature sensors and special magnetic field detectors are demonstrated.     

Atomic and magnetic structures of Fe<Subscript>70</Subscript>Al<Subscript>5</Subscript>B<Subscript>25</Subscript> amorphous alloys

The short-range order around boron, aluminum, and iron atoms in Fe₇₅B₂₅ and Fe₇₀Al₅B₂₅ amorphous alloys has been studied by ¹¹B and ²⁷Al nuclear magnetic resonance at 4.2 K and ⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy at 87 and 295 K. The average magnetic moment of iron atoms μ(Fe) in these alloys has been measured by a vibrating sample magnetometer. It has been revealed that the substitution of aluminum atoms for iron atoms does not disturb μ(Fe) in the Fe₇₀Al₅B₂₅ alloy, gives rise to an additional contribution to the ¹¹B NMR spectrum in the low-frequency range, and shifts maxima of the distribution of hyperfine fields at the ⁵⁷Fe nuclei. In the Fe₇₀Al₅B₂₅ amorphous alloy, the aluminum atoms substitute for iron atoms in the nearest coordination shells of boron and iron atoms. This alloy consists of nanoclusters in which boron and iron atoms have a short-range order of the tetragonal Fe₃B phase type.     

Influence of deformation on the structural transformation of the Pd<Subscript>40</Subscript>Ni<Subscript>40</Subscript>P<Subscript>20</Subscript> amorphous phase

The influence of plastic deformation on the structure of the Pd₄₀Ni₄₀P₂₀ amorphous alloy has been investigated using X-ray diffraction and measurements of the velocity of sound. It has been revealed that the rolling of the sample leads to a change in the structure of the amorphous phase (distortion of the first coordination sphere) and that the structural transformations are more pronounced in the near-surface region of the sample. The rolling also results in a decrease in the transverse velocity of sound. The observed effects decrease with time. It has been demonstrated that the revealed effects are associated with the inelastic deformation of the amorphous alloy.     

Serrated deformation of a Pd<Subscript>40</Subscript>Cu<Subscript>30</Subscript>Ni<Subscript>10</Subscript>P<Subscript>20</Subscript> bulk amorphous alloy during nanoindentation

Depth-sensing (indentation) testing is used to study the characteristics of a serrated plastic flow in a Pd₄₀Cu₃₀Ni₁₀P₂₀ bulk amorphous alloy, and the boundaries between the regions of serrated and homogeneous plastic deformation are determined.     

Magnetic and Mössbauer Studies of Fe<Subscript>76</Subscript>Mo<Subscript>8</Subscript>Cu<Subscript>1</Subscript>B<Subscript>15</Subscript> Amorphous Alloy

“Zero field”-Mössbauer and magnetization measurements have been performed on an amorphous Fe₇₆Mo₈Cu₁B₁₅ alloy in the temperature range of (10-340) K. The room-temperature Mössbauer spectrum exhibits magnetic dipole and electric quadrupole interactions. At approximately 306 K, the magnetic interactions vanish and the alloy shows fully paramagnetic behavior. On the other hand, the relative representation of paramagnetic component becomes weak with decreasing temperature and below 220 K the magnetic dipole interactions prevail. Below this temperature an anomaly in the low-temperature dependencies of ac susceptibility and of magnetization, measured during cooling the specimen from 340 K down to 20 K is observed. The anomaly on the magnetization curve vanishes in the field of 200 Oe.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">In situ</Emphasis> X-ray diffraction study of structural evaluation in Fe<Subscript>73</Subscript>Cu<Subscript>1.5</Subscript>Nd<Subscript>3</Subscript>Si<Subscript>13.5</Subscript>B<Subscript>9</Subscript> amorphous alloy at high temperature

The thermodynamics structural relaxation of Fe₇₃Cu_1.5Nd₃Si_13.5B₉ amorphous alloy from room temperature to 400°C has been investigated by measuring the structure factor with in situ X-ray diffraction. The structural information of the atomic configuration such as radial distribution function (RDF) and neighbor atomic distance was gained by Fourier transformation. The research result shows that the amorphous structure remains stable in the temperature range of 30 to 400°C but exhibits distinct changes in local atomic configuration with the increase of temperature. The quantitative determination of the neighbor atomic distance suggests that the degree of short-range order changes by the temperature altering the second nearest neighbor local atomic configuration of the amorphous when structural relaxation occurs. Supported by the Natural Science Foundation of Hebei Province of China (Grant No. A2007000296), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 50731005), SKPBRC (Grant Nos. 2007CB616915 and 2006CB605201), and PCSIRT (Grant No. IRT0650)     

Crystallization kinetics of Al<Subscript>86</Subscript>Ni<Subscript>8</Subscript>Ho<Subscript>6</Subscript> amorphous alloy

We investigate the processes of crystallization and determined the structure and thermal properties of Al₈₆Ni₈Ho₆ amorphous alloy in a wide temperature range. A three-stage nature of the crystallization process upon heating to a temperature of 700 K is found. According to data of high-temperature X-ray diffraction analysis, the crystallization of an Al₈₆Ni₈Ho₆ amorphous ribbon is rather complex: aluminum crystallites grow in the amorphous phase to a temperature of 470 K, a Ho₃Ni₅Al₁₉ phase is formed above 563 K, and a HoAl₃ phase appears above 598 K. The phases of Ho₃Ni₅Al₁₉ and HoAl₃ are retained up to a temperature of 723 K. A three-stage kinetic model of the crystallization process with the reaction sequence is proposed based on calculations by multivariate nonlinear regression. The values of the total activation energy for each crystallization stage reach 239, 378, and 247 kJ/mol.     

The temperature dependence of the magnetoelastic characteristics of cores for force sensors utilizing Fe<Subscript>70</Subscript>Ni<Subscript>8</Subscript>Si<Subscript>10</Subscript>B<Subscript>12</Subscript> amorphous alloy

This paper presents the results of investigation on the influence of temperature on magnetoelastic characteristics of the two ring-shaped cores, made of Fe₇₀Ni₈Si₁₀B₁₂ amorphous alloy. The cores were annealed for 1 h at 350 and 400°C, respectively. The compressive force F was applied perpendicular to the direction of the magnetizing field H in the sample. Special cylindrical backing enables application of the uniform compressive stress σ to the wound ring sample. A resistive furnace heated the experimental set-up. Results presented in the paper indicate a significant influence of the temperature on the magnetoelastic characteristics of Fe₇₀Ni₈Si₁₀B₁₂ amorphous alloy. Information about the magnetoelastic characteristics of this material may be useful in the magnetoelastic sensor development. Also this will create new possibilities in the development of physical model of magnetoelastic effect.      

Inverted near-surface hysteresis loops in heterogeneous (nanocrystalline/amorphous) Fe<Subscript>81</Subscript>Nb<Subscript>7</Subscript>B<Subscript>12</Subscript> alloys

Inverted hysteresis loops were observed for the first time in the near-surface layers of heterogeneous (nanocrystalline/amorphous) Fe₈₁Nb₇B₁₂ alloys. In particular, a negative residual magnetization is observed when a positive magnetic field applied in the sample plane is decreased to zero. The inverted hysteresis is qualitatively explained within the framework of a two-phase model, according to which the heterogeneous alloys contain two dissimilar phases exhibiting uniaxial magnetic anisotropy and featuring antiferromagnetic exchange interaction.