Formation of amorphous phase with crystalline globules in Fe-Cu-Si-B and Fe-Cu-Zr-B immiscible alloys

The microstructure of rapidly solidified melt-spun ribbons of (Fe0.75M0.10B0.15)(100-x)Cu-x (M = Si, Zr) alloys was investigated focusing on amorphous-phase formation and the solidification structure. In this study, Fe-Cu-Si-B and Fe-Cu-Zr-B alloys were designed to show amorphous-phase formation and liquid-phase separation simultaneously. Amorphous-phase formation was confirmed in both Fe-Cu-Si-B and Fe-Cu-Zr-B alloys. Minor exceptions in a combination map of mixing enthalpy and quaternary predicted phase diagram are acceptable range for designing a quaternary Fe-Cu-based alloy system that shows liquid-phase separation in Fe-based and Cu-based liquids and the formation of an Fe-based amorphous phase. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.