Amorphous (Ni0.6Nb0.4)100−xZrx (x = 0, 20, 30, 40 and 50at%) alloys were prepared by the melt-spinning technique, and the H permeation through those alloy membranes was examined. The local atomic structure in these alloys was also investigated by radial distribution function analysis. Moreover, H solubility and diffusivity were also measured in order to discuss the mechanism for H permeation. The permeability of the Ni–Nb–Zr amorphous alloys increased with Zr content and temperature. The maximum H permeability was 1.59 x 10−8mol/msPa1/2 at 673K for the (Ni0.6Nb0.4)50Zr50 amorphous alloy. The (Ni0.6Nb0.4)50Zr50 amorphous alloy showed larger H solubility and diffusivity than the (Ni0.6Nb0.4)70Zr30 amorphous alloy. As the result, the (Ni0.6Nb0.4)50Zr50 amorphous alloy showed higher H permeability than the (Ni0.6Nb0.4)70Zr30 amorphous alloy at 673K. The radial distribution function analysis showed that the atomic distance between the Zr atoms increased by hydrogenation. The chemical ordering such that the number of Zr coordinates was much higher than that of Ni and Nb coordinates was found in the (Ni0.6Nb0.4)70Zr30 and (Ni0.6Nb0.4)50Zr50 amorphous alloys.

Hydrogen Permeation and Structural Features of Melt-Spun Ni–Nb–Zr Amorphous Alloys. S.Yamaura, M.Sakurai, M.Hasegawa, K.Wakoh, Y.Shimpo, M.Nishida, H.Kimura, E.Matsubara, A.Inoue: Acta Materialia, 2005, 53[13], 3703-11