High-pressure synthesis of A15 Nb3Si phase from amorphous NbSi alloys

An amorphous phase has been produced in a binary Nb-19 at .% Si alloy by rapidly quenching from the molten state. Primary decomposition of the amorphous phase by annealing resulted in the production of a small quantity of the A15 cubic Nb₃Si phase. However, long annealing treatments led to the complete transformation to the equilibrium phases. Application of high pressure of 10 GPa during decomposition of the amorphous phase resulted firstly in the improved stability of the amorphous phase and secondly, in the production of a much larger quantity of the A15 cubic Nb₃Si phase. The lattice parameter of this phase was calculated to be 0.515 nm, in conformity with the previous investigations.