AMORPHIZATION OF Nb-TM SYSTEMS BY MECHANICAL ALLOYING OF THE PURE METALS

Binary powder mixtures of crystalline niobium and late transition metals (TM=Cu, Ni, Co, Fe, Mn, Cr) were amorphized in a planetary ball mill. The development of the microstructure during the amorphization process was observed by optical microscopy. The amorphous Nb-TM alloys were characterized by X-ray diffractometry. DSC and DTA. Glass forming ranges were determined and in the case of Co-Nb compared with the corresponding values for quenched amorphous alloys and with theoretical predictions. The crystallization behaviour was studied for Co- and Fe-Nb alloys as well