Relationship Between the Liquidus Surface and Structures of Zr-Cu-Al Bulk Amorphous Alloys

Abstract

By using a Al₂O₃ cell coated with Si₃N₄, the melting point (T_m) of the cast bulk amorphous samples were measured on DTA curves cooled from the molten state. Based on the T_m data, the partial liquidus surface of Zr–Cu–Al ternary alloys was determined. A ternary eutectic point is located around Zr₅₀Cu₄₀Al₁₀, and low melting temperatures of less than 1273 K were obtained in a wide compositional area of 40–70 at%Zr, 30–60 at% Cu and 0–10 at%Al. Bulk amorphous alloys in Zr–Cu–Al ternary system were produced by an arc-casting method and the highest tensile strength of 2000 MPa was observed in Zr₅₀Cu₄₀Al₁₀.