Formation of nanocrystalline Fe73.5Cu1Nb3Si13.5B9 alloy under high pressure

The formation of nanocrystalline Fe73.5 Cu1Nb3Si13.5 B9 alloy by annealing an amorphous Fe73.5Cu1Nb3Si13.5B9 alloy at a temperature of 823 K under pressures in the range of 1–5 GPa is investigated by using X-ray diffraction, electron diffraction, and transmission electron microscopy. The high pressure experiments are carried out in belt-type pressure apparatus. Experimental results show that the initial crystalline phase in these annealed alloys is a-Fe solid solution (named a-Fe phase below), and high pressure has a great influence on the crystallization process of the a-Fe phase. The grain size of the a-Fe phase decreases with the increase of pressure (P). The volume fraction of the a-Fe phase increases with increasing the pressure as the pressure is below 2 GPa, and then decreases (Pδ2 GPa). The mechanism for the effects of the high pressure on the crystallization process of amorphous Fe73.5Cu1Nb3Si13.5B9 alloy is discussed