Eutectic reaction and cored dendritic morphology in yttrium doped Zr-based amorphous alloys

The microalloying effect of yttrium on the crystallization behaviors of (Zr_0.525Al_0.10Ti_0.05Cu_0.179Ni_0.146)_100-x Y_x, and (Zr_0.55Al_0.15-Ni_0.10Cu_0.20)_100-x Y_x (x=0, 0.4, and 1, thus the two alloy systems were denoted as Zr52.5, Zr52.5Y0.4, Zr52.5Y1, and Zr55, Zr55Y0.4, Zr55Y1, respectively) was studied. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) results suggested that the crystalline phases were different in the two Zr-based alloys and with different yttrium contents. ZrNi-phase and Al₃Zr₅ phase precipitations can be well explained by the mechanisms of nucleation and growth. Al₃Zr₅ phase is mainly formed by a peritectic-like reaction, while ZrNi-phase by a eutectic reaction. The contents of elements Y, Al, and Ti may dominate the reaction types. The orientation relationship between Y₂O₃ particles and Al₃Zr₅ phase is also discussed.