Gradient Structure Formation during Crystallization of Deformed Al87Ni6Nd7 Amorphous Alloy

The influence of plastic deformation on the formation of nanocrystals in the Al87Ni6Nd7 amorphous alloy was studied using X-ray diffraction analysis. It has been shown that the preliminary deformation of the amorphous alloy accelerates the crystallization of the amorphous phase and can lead to the formation of smaller nanocrystals compared to heat treatment. The size of nanocrystals and their number depend on the treatment conditions of the amorphous phase: when preliminary deformation is used, the size of nanocrystals formed during annealing is smaller than that in an undeformed sample and the proportion of nanocrystals is slightly higher. In samples subjected to preliminary deformation by rolling, a gradient structure is formed: the proportion of nanocrystals decreases with distance from the surface into the depth of the sample. The size of nanocrystals changes slightly with changing distance from the sample surface. The results show that preliminary plastic deformation can be an effective method to obtain a nanocrystalline structure with different proportion and sizes of nanocrystals in the amorphous phase. This is important for creating highly functional materials with outstanding physicochemical properties. The results obtained significantly expand the existing understanding of the mechanisms of formation of nanocrystals in the amorphous phase under external influences.