Synthesis and devitrification of glassy Zr–Ti–Ni and Zr–Hf–Ni ternary alloys

Two alloys of nominal compositions $Zr_41.5Ti_41.5Ni₁₇$ and $Zr_41.5Hf_41.5Ni₁₇$ have been melt spun at $40 ms^-1$ wheel speed. Under this processing condition Zr–Ti–Ni alloy becomes amorphous and the Zr–Hf–Ni alloy precipitates a cubic phase with 4.95 \AA lattice parameter in the amorphous matrix. The Zr–Ti–Ni alloy, upon annealing, precipitates a nanoquasicrystalline phase, which at the later stages of crystallisation transforms into cF96 $NiZr_2$ phase. The amorphous phase in Zr–Hf–Ni alloy upon annealing precipitates the same cubic phase with 4.95 \AA lattice parameter. The lower glass forming ability of Zr–Hf–Ni compared to Zr–Ti–Ni and nanoquasicrystallisation in Zr–Ti–Ni alloy can be explained by taking into consideration the atomic size differences among Ti, Zr and Hf.