Zirconium-based amorphous alloy and method for preparing the same

Abstract

A zirconium-based amorphous alloy, having the following formula: (Zr 100-x-y Ti x Hf y ) a (Cu m Ni n ) b Al c M d N e , in which, a, b, c, d, and e represent numbers of atoms, 30≦a≦90, 15≦b≦60, 5≦c≦35, 0.1≦d≦20, 0.1≦e≦5, and a sum of a, b, c, d, and e is 100, x, y, m, and n represent numbers of atoms of Ti, Hf, Cu, and Ni, respectively, and 0≦x≦0.2, 0≦y≦0.05, 0.2≦m/n≦5. M is at least one selected from Y and Sc, and N is at least one selected from Si and C. A crystalline phase accounts for between 5 and 50 v. % of a total volume of the zirconium-based amorphous alloy, and an amorphous phase accounts for between 50 and 95 v. % of the total volume of the zirconium-based amorphous alloy.

The invention claimed is: 
     
         1 . A zirconium-based amorphous alloy, having the following formula:
 (Zr 100-x-y Ti x Hf y ) a (Cu m Ni n ) b Al c M d N e      wherein 30≦a≦90, 15≦b≦60, 5≦c≦35, 0.1≦d≦20, 0.1≦e≦5, 0≦x≦0.2, 0≦y≦0.05, 0.2≦m/n≦5, a+b+c+d+e=100, M is at least one selected from Y and Sc, N is at least one selected from Si and C; a crystalline phase accounts for between 5 and 50 vol. % of the total volume of the zirconium-based amorphous alloy, an amorphous phase accounts for between 50 and 95 vol. % of the total volume of the zirconium-based amorphous alloy.   
     
     
         2 . The alloy of  claim 1 , wherein 50≦a≦75, 20≦b≦55, 5≦c≦20, 0.1≦d≦10, 0.1≦e≦2, a+b+c+d+e=100, 0≦x≦0.15, 0≦y≦0.03, 0.4≦m/n≦4.5; the crystalline phase accounts for between 10 and 25 vol. % of the zirconium-based amorphous alloy, and the amorphous phase accounts for between 75 and 90 v. % of the zirconium-based amorphous alloy. 
     
     
         3 . A method for preparing the alloy of  claim 1 , comprising: melting raw materials of the zirconium-based amorphous alloy in the presence of an inert gas or in vacuum, and then cooling and shaping the raw materials; wherein the raw materials of the zirconium-based amorphous alloy comprise: Zr, Ti, Hf, Cu, Ni, Al, M, and N, and an addition of each component enable the formula of the zirconium-based amorphous alloy to satisfy (Zr 100-x-y Ti x Hf y ) a (Cu m Ni n ) b Al c M d N e . 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein
 the inert gas is at least one selected from the group consisting of helium, neon, argon, krypton, xenon, and radon gas, and a purity of the inert gas is higher than or equal to 94 vol. %;   the vacuum is lower than 1000 Pa of absolute pressure;   a melting temperature is between 1000 and 3000oC; and   a melting time is between 0.5 and 10 min.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the vacuum condition is smaller than 100 pascal; the melting temperature is between 1200 and 2700° C.; and the melting time is between 2 and 5 min. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the vacuum is between 0.1 and 50 Pa of absolute pressure.