Formation of a phase separated structure in the Zr–Cu–Fe–Al alloys by thermo-mechanical processing

The article analyzes the effect of the addition of iron in the Zr–Cu–Al system metallic glassy alloys on the phase separation process during thermo-mechanical treatment. The addition of Fe causes formation of nanostructured regions of chemical inhomogeneity after cold rolling and annealing below the glass transition temperature. The resulted effect on the mechanical properties of the investigated alloys is established. Changes in the structure during thermo-mechanical treatment are studied in detail by transmission electron microscopy. The increase in the microhardness of the alloys during the formation of inhomogeneities in the amorphous matrix is explained by the difficulty of propagation of the shear bands formed during deformation.