Preparation of an Fe80P14B6 Bulk Nanocrystalline Alloy via Solidification from a Molten Alloy at Deep Undercooling

Using fluxing technology, molten Fe₈₀P₁₄B₆ alloy achieved significant undercooling (Δ<i>T</i>). Experimental results demonstrate that the solidified morphologies of the Fe₈₀P₁₄B₆ alloy vary considerably with Δ<i>T</i>. At Δ<i>T</i> = 100 K, the microstructure is dendritic. At Δ<i>T</i> = 250 K, a variety of eutectic morphologies are observed, including a network-like structure near the solidification center, attributed to liquid spinodal decomposition. At Δ<i>T</i> = 350 K, the microstructure exhibits a uniform, random network-like morphology with approximately 50 nm. The mechanical property of the specimens solidified at different Δ<i>T</i> was checked by microhardness test, indicating that the hardness of the specimens increases with the increase in ΔT, reaching a maximum value of 1151 HV_0.2.