THERMAL STABILITY OF AMORPHOUS ALLOYS

Abstract
The crystallization of the amorphous alloys Zr-Rh, Zr-Fe, Dy-Co and Gd-Co was studied by means of differential scanning calorimetry and X-ray diffraction. In several of these alloys we determined the apparent activation energy for diffusion by means of the Kissinger method. There appears to be no simple relationship between the crystallization temperatures and these apparent activation energies. The present results together with data available on many other amorphous alloys between two metals (including alloys between Eu, La, Gd or Zr with 3d metals or Cu) were analysed in terms of the kinetic approach to the thermal stability. It is shown that the proportionality between the crystallization temperature and the hole formation enthalpy (pertaining to the size of the smaller type of atoms) is quite generally valid.