Investigation on structure and morphology of the thermally treated glassy alloy (Fe,Cr)80(P,C,Si)20 by means of ESCA and SEM/EDXA

Metallic glass ribbons of the chemical composition (Fe,Cr)₈₀(P,C,Si)₂₀ have been thermally treated in the region between 530 and 980°C for 72 h. The SEM/EDXA investigations indicate that a phase transformation takes place between 575 and 980°C in a surface layer of 5 μm thickness. Thus, a Cr-rich phase occurs between 760 and 800°C which is converted into an open-pore system between 850 and 900°C. The oxidation process reaches its maximum at 760°C. The ESCA spectra of the material in the “as received” state and of the thermally treated samples indicate that different oxygen species are formed within the analysed surface layer of 10 nm. The oxygen of the original material is incorporated as hydroxyl groups in species such as FeO(OH) and CrO(OH). After thermal treating the hydroxyl content decreases and the oxide content increases. Species of Si exist in the surface layer as SiO_x-like compounds (peak at BE=102.0 eV). A majority phase of transition metal phosphide species is coexisting with oxidised phosphate species.