Phase decomposition and nanocrystallization in amorphous Ni70Mo10P20 alloy

The structure of amorphous Ni70Mo10P20 alloy was studied by X-ray diffraction and transmission and high-resolution electron microscopy. Phase decomposition in the amorphous phase was found to occur during the annealing between the glass transition and crystallization temperatures. The size of non-uniform regions was about 100 nm. The scattering vector corresponding to intensity maximum changes from 4.88 to 4.78 nm(-1) from place to place. Nanocrystal groups form during the crystallization. in this temperature region. The size of these nanocrystals is about 10-30 nm and there is no amorphous layer between them. The crystallization mechanism changes when the annealing temperature is below the glass transition temperature. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.