Nanocrystallization of Cu₅₀Zr₄₅Ti₅ Metallic Glass Induced by Electron Irradiation

Abstract

The effect of electron irradiation on the structure of melt-spun Cu₅₀Zr₄₅Ti₅ metallic glass was investigated. Microstructural evolution during electron irradiation was examined by means of conventional and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (CTEM and HRTEM) equipped with X-ray energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). The glassy phase was not stable under electron irradiation and crystalline nanoparticles with the monoclinic CuZr structure were formed. The volume fraction of the nanocrystalline phase increased with the electron dose while the average grain size remained at about 7 nm. This result indicates that electron irradiation is effective in producing nanocrystalline structures from the metallic glass.