Correlation between mechanical, thermal and electronic properties in Zr-Ni, Cu amorphous alloys

• Published in: Philosophical magazine (Abingdon, England) England), 2007-12, Vol.87 (35), p.5629-5637
• Main Authors: RISTIC, R, STUBICAR, M, BABIC, E
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Condensed matter: electronic structure, electrical, magnetic, and optical properties; Condensed matter: structure, mechanical and thermal properties; Electron density of states and band structure of crystalline solids; Electron states; Exact sciences and technology; Mechanical and acoustical properties of condensed matter; Mechanical properties of solids; Physics; Thermal properties of condensed matter; Thermal properties of crystalline solids; Transition metals and alloys
• ISSN: 1478-6435; 1478-6443
• DOI: 10.1080/14786430701708364

We show that mechanical properties (stiffness and hardness) of Zr-Ni, Cu amorphous alloys increase linearly with Ni, Cu content over a wide composition range (22 ≤ x Ni,Cu  ≤ 65 at%). This correlates with the observed increase in the Debye temperatures and densities with x and shows that the strength of interatomic bonding increases with x in these alloys. Accordingly, the thermal stability (e.g. the crystallization and glass transition temperatures) of these alloys also increases with x. Since the electronic density of states at the Fermi level decreases linearly with x within the same x-range, a very simple relationship exists between the electronic structure and mechanical and thermal properties. We also deduce the mechanical properties of hypothetic amorphous Zr and briefly discuss the possibility of its preparation.