Preparation and novel properties of nanocrystalline and nanoquasicrystalline alloys

Drastic improvements in the mechanical and magnetic properties were found to be achieved by the nanostructure and subnanostructure controls of the nonequilibrium phases including amorphous and icosahedral phases. The improvements in the mechanical strength and ductility mere made by the homogeneous dispersion of nanoscale Al particles in an amorphous phase and by the formation of a mixed structure consisting mainly of nanoscale icosahedral particles surrounded by an Al phase. Simultaneous achievement of good soft magnetic properties and high saturation magnetization exceeding those for any soft magnetic materials was obtained by the formation of nanoscale bcc grains surrounded by the residual amorphous phase. The generation of ferromagnetism with high magnetization was also achieved by subnanoscale control of the icosahedral atomic configuration in Al base alloys.