Electron irradiation induced amorphization and crystallization in Zr66.7CU33.3 metallic glass

Electron irradiation to metallic glasses is of scientific and practical interest because this process can introduce not only amorphization of crystalline phases but also crystallization of an amorphous phase. Zr66.7Cu33.3 metallic glass shows simultaneous amorphization and crystallization under electron irradiation in spite of the same irradiation conditions. The thermal equilibrium b.c.t.-Zr2Cu crystalline phase was transformed to the nanocrystalline f.c.c.-Zr2Cu phase through the amorphous state during electron irradiation. The unique solid state amorphization and crystallization behavior under electron irradiation can be explained by the thermodynamical model based on the change in the relative phase stability among amorphous and crystalline phases by electron irradiation.