Hydrogen in amorphous TM33Zr67 (TM=Fe, Co, Ni) alloys

Hydrogen sorption properties and some corresponding changes in the crystallization of amorphous TM₃₃Zr₆₇ (TM=Fe, Co, Ni) alloys have been investigated. Relatively large amount of hydrogen was found to dissolve into the amorphous alloys during electrochemical hydrogen charging. The microstructural evolution during annealing of H-charged Ni₃₃Zr₆₇ was studied as well. The weaker bonded hydrogen desorbs in a large temperature range (440–625 K) before the crystallization of the amorphous alloys to start. A hydride phase (ZrH₂) was found to form during annealing the H-charged amorphous Ni₃₃Zr₆₇ alloy. During heating at constant heating rate the hydride decomposes at about 715 K and formation of Zr₂Ni immediately takes place. The final microstructure of the Zr₂Ni, crystallized from the H-charged matrix, is noticeably finer compared to the material crystallized from the H-free amorphous alloy, most probably due to the higher temperature of Zr₂Ni formation in the H-charged amorphous alloy than in the H-free sample.