Influences of hydrostatic pressure during casting and Pd content on as-cast phase in Zr-Al-Ni-Cu-Pd bulk alloys

The influence of conditions such as sample diameter, Pd content and hydrostatic pressure in a chamber during casting on the structure of as cast Zr-Al-Ni-Cu-Pd bulk alloys were analyzed. It was observed that when the alloys were cast in vacuum chamber they have tetragonal-Zr₂Ni equilibrium phase and nanosize icosahedral primary phase. It was also observed that when the alloys were cast in inert argon gas at atmospheric pressure (p∼0.1 MPa) they have single glassy phase. The results show that temperature and time transformation curves for the icosahedral and subsequent equilibrium phase formation in alloys system shifts to a shorter time side with decreasing hydrostatic pressure.