Formation of quasicrystals in Zr46.8Ti8.2Cu7.5Ni10Be27.5 bulk glass

Abstract

The formation of the quasicrystalline phase is observed as a first step of crystallization during isothermal annealing of the Zr46.7Ti8.3Cu7.5Ni10Be27.5 bulk glass. The structure of the quasicrystals and the sequence of phase formation have been investigated by x-ray powder diffraction and transmission electron microscopy. The structure of the quasicrystals is determined to be primitive icosahedral with a quasilattice constant of 4.779 Å. The quasicrystals decompose into several intermetallic compounds after prolonged annealing at lower temperatures or in a short time period (less than 5 min) at high temperatures above 683 K.