Microstructure, decomposition, and crystallization in Zr41Ti14Cu12.5Ni10Be22.5 bulk metallic glass

The microstructure as well as the decomposition and crystallization of the Zr41Ti14Cu12.5Ni10Be22.5 bulk metallic glass (MG) has been investigated. The effects of the decomposition on the subsequent crystallization are determined. Reduced density function analyses for the MG, and the decomposition and crystallization in the MG have been made by means of electron-diffraction intensity measurement with imaging plate to deter mine the local atomic structure and its development in the course of the decomposition and crystallization. The microstructural characteristics of the MG are obtained demonstrating the difference between the bulk MG and conventional MG. The origin of the large glass forming ability of the alloy and the effect of the phase separation on the crystallization are discussed based on the obtained local atomic structural information of the MG.