New Approach to the Phenomenology of Amorphous Curie-Point Relaxation

The possible origin of short range atomic displacements coupled with the irreversible amorphous Curie temperature relaxation (∆T am C ) in Fe-based glasses is discussed and analyzed on the basis of quenched-in phase reminiscences. The displacements are dominantly symmetry changes, which are governed by the relative stability of fcc and bcc quenched-in phase reminiscences at a given temperature range. Those of elements which cause positive ∆T am C in as quenched state, also cause positive irreversible ∆T am C during structural relaxation. The influence of Cr addition is just the opposite in this respect.