Laser-induced self-propagating high-temperature synthesis of amorphous- and quasicrystal-containing composite materials

Abstract Strong exothermic reactions due to a large negative enthalpy of mixing can occur among the major components of the Zr-based bulk metallic glass and the Zr–Ti-based stable quasicrystal alloy systems. Based on this idea, a new technique is developed to fabricate amorphous- and quasicrystal-containing composite materials using laser-induced self-propagating high-temperature synthesis (LSHS). The LSHS of the Zr 55 Al 10 Ni 5 Cu 30 alloy shows that the product mainly consists of the amorphous, Zr 3 Al 2 and Zr 2 Cu phases. The LSHS product for the Ti 40 Zr 40 Ni 20 alloy is mainly composed of the α-(Ti, Zr) solid-solution, the icosahedral quasicrystal, and the C14-Laves phase with the MgZn 2 structure type.