Effect of cooling rate on the microstructure and microhardness of the CuZrAgAl alloy

Journal Article · Wed Aug 15 00:00:00 EDT 2012 · Materials Characterization

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/J.MATCHAR.2012.04.016· OSTI ID:22066476

Liu, Y ^[1]; Blandin, J J; Suery, M; Kapelski, G ^[2]

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1. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Nanchang University, 330031 Nanchang (China)
2. SIMAP/GPM2, Grenoble-INP, CNRS, UJF, 38402 Saint-Martin d'Heres Cedex (France)

The effect of cooling rate on the microstructure and microhardness of the Cu{sub 40}Zr{sub 44}Ag{sub 8}Al{sub 8} (at.%) alloy has been studied. The crystalline phases were characterized by X-ray diffraction, optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and identified as AlCu{sub 2}Zr, Cu{sub 10}Zr{sub 7} and CuZr{sub 2}. The solidification sequence was established as following: the Cu{sub 10}Zr{sub 7} phase forms first in the periphery of the rod, then following with AlCu{sub 2}Zr phase in the rod center and finally CuZr{sub 2} crystals in Cu-depleted areas. The effect of crystals on the mechanical properties of the Cu{sub 40}Zr{sub 44}Ag{sub 8}Al{sub 8} alloy was also estimated through the microhardness. According to the value of microhardness, inhomogeneous structure of the amorphous matrix is more easily formed for the alloy in the low cooling rate (i.e., 9 mm) as compared with the alloy with fully amorphous state in the large cooling rate (i.e., 3 mm). This inhomogeneous structure was attributed to the composition change of amorphous matrix arising from the forming of crystalline phases due to the low cooling rate. - Highlights: Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer The crystalline phases in the Cu{sub 40}Zr{sub 44}Ag{sub 8}Al{sub 8} alloy were identified. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer The solidification sequence of Cu{sub 40}Zr{sub 44}Ag{sub 8}Al{sub 8} alloy was verified. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer The softening and hardening of alloy could be observed due to the crystallization.

• OSTI ID: 22066476
• Journal Information: Materials Characterization, Vol. 70, Issue Complete; Other Information: Copyright (c) 2012 Elsevier Science B.V., Amsterdam, The Netherlands, All rights reserved.; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 1044-5803
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
ALUMINIUM ALLOYS
AMORPHOUS STATE
COOLING
COPPER ALLOYS
CRYSTALLIZATION
CRYSTALS
HARDENING
MATRIX MATERIALS
METALLIC GLASSES
MICROHARDNESS
MICROSTRUCTURE
OPTICAL MICROSCOPY
SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY
SILVER ALLOYS
SOLIDIFICATION
X-RAY DIFFRACTION
X-RAY SPECTROSCOPY
ZIRCONIUM ALLOYS