Crystallization and phase-transformation diagrams of Nb-doped CuZrAl metallic glass obtained by fast-scanning calorimetry and in-situ synchrotron XRD upon flash-annealing.

The crystallization mechanism and solid-state phase transformations in Cu 46.5 Zr 48 Al 4 Nb 1.5 metallic glass upon isokinetic and isothermal annealing are studied by using conventional and fast-scanning differential calorimetry, electric current flash-annealing, electromagnetic levitation, and in-situ high-energy synchrotron X-ray diffraction. Continuous-heating-transformation and time-temperature-transformation diagrams mapping the formation and evolution of the Cu 10 Zr 7 , B2 CuZr, τ 3 Zr 51 Cu 28 Al 21 and τ 4 Cu 2 ZrAl phases in dependence on heating rate and temperature are constructed. Cu 46.5 Zr 48 Al 4 Nb 1.5 metallic glass shows an increased propensity for the Cu 10 Zr 7 phase formation compared to the parent Cu 47.5 Zr 47.5 Al 5 glass. • Crystallization of Cu 46.5 Zr 48 Al 4 Nb 1.5 metallic glass upon flash-annealing is studied. • Processing parameters for fabrication of glass-matrix composites are established. • Nb-microalloying enhances formation of Cu 10 Zr 7 phase upon annealing. • B2 CuZr is always primary phase by crystallization from undercooled liquid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]