Thermal stability and crystallization phenomena of low cost Ti-based bulk metallic glass

The thermal stability, kinetics of crystallization, and glass forming ability of a Ti₄₈Ni₃₂Cu₈Si₈Sn₄ bulk amorphous alloy have been studied by differential scanning calorimetry using both isothermal and non-isothermal experiments. The activation energy, frequency factor, and reaction rate for the crystallization cascade were determined via the Kissinger method. X-ray diffractometry and transmission electron microscopy studies revealed that crystallization starts with the primary precipitation of Ti(Ni,Cu), followed by the nucleation of Cu₃Ti from the amorphous precursor. The kinetics of nucleation of the primary crystalline phase was also investigated using the Johnson–Mehl-Avrami method and the Avrami exponent, n, was determined. This new alloy possesses a significantly larger supercooled liquid region than any other non beryllium- or non rare earth – containing titanium-based bulk metallic glass to date.