Synthesis, Crystallization Behavior and Surface Modification of Ni-Cr-Si-Fe Amorphous Alloy

Abstract:

A quaternary Ni₈₆Cr₇Si₄Fe₃ amorphous alloy was synthesized by melt spinning technique. Surface modification was done by electron beam melting (EBM), neutron irradiation and γ-rays. Microstructure of as cast, annealed and modified samples was examined by scanning electron microscope. Crystallization behavior was studied by annealing the samples in vacuum at different temperatures in the range 773-1073 K. Techniques of X-ray diffraction (XRD), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) were used for characterization. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) was conducted at various heating rates in the range 10-40 K/min. Thermal parameters like glass transition temperature T_g, crystallization temperature T_x, supercooled liquid region ΔT_x and reduced glass transition temperature T_rg were measured. The Ni₈₆Cr₇Si₄Fe₃ alloy exhibits wide supercooled liquid region of 60 K indicating good thermal stability. The activation energy was calculated to be 160±4 kJ/mol using Kissinger and Ozawa equations respectively which indicates high resistance against crystallization. The XRD results of the samples annealed at 773 K, 923 K, 973 K and 1073 K/20 min show nucleation of Ni₂Cr₃ and NiCrFe crystalline phases. Vickers microhardness of the as cast ribbon was measured to be 680.. About 30-50 % increase in hardness was achieved by applying EBM technique.

• Periodical: Key Engineering Materials (Volumes 510-511)
• Pages: 137-142
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/KEM.510-511.137
• Online since: May 2012
• Authors: Muhammad Iqbal, J.I. Akhter, M.U. Rajput, K. Mahmood, Z. Hussain, S. Hussain, M. Rafiq
• Keywords: Activation Energy, Amorphous Materials, Electron Beam Melting (EBM), Ni-Based Alloys, Precipitation, Surface Modification

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