Effect of carbon addition on the glass-forming ability of mechanically alloyed Fe-based alloys

The effect of carbon addition on the glass-forming ability (GFA) of mechanically alloyed Fe-based Fe42M28Zr10B20 (M=Ni, Al, or Ge) amorphous alloy systems was investigated. It was shown that when B was partially replaced by 10 at. % C in the Fe-Ni-Zr-B and Fe-AI-Zr-B alloy systems, the GFA of the systems had increased significantly, as determined by the reduced milling time required for amorphization. However, when carbon was added to the Fe-Ge-Zr-B alloy system, the GFA was decreased drastically and no amorphization was observed. The role of carbon on the GFA of alloy systems has been discussed from the thermodynamic and kinetic points of view. (c) 2008 American Institute of Physics.