Mechanism of Solid-State Amorphization in the Fe-Si-Cu-Mg-O System

Solid-state amorphization process occurring at 600-1060 °C continuous annealing was observed by non-ambient x-ray diffraction on Fe-3%Si-0.5%Cu alloy surface with MgO as thermostable coating. The phenomenon was occurred at α→γ transformation temperatures (920-960 °C) in a layer consisting of Si solid solution in α-Fe and oxides (MgFe)2SiO4, (MgFe)O, SiO2. Amorphous state remained both during heating and cooling to 20 °C. Simulation for diffusion amorphization of Fe (Si) solid solution was proposed. Mg2Si complexes are reduced from oxides by hydrogen then transfer to solid solution and solid-state amorphization is occurred.

Solid State Amorphization and Alloy Parameters for High Entropy Alloys

Fast electron irradiation can induce the solid-state amorphization (SSA) of many intermetallic compounds. The occurrence of SSA stimulated by fast electron irradiation was found in the Al0.5TiZrPdCuNi high-entropy alloy (HEA). The relationship between the occurrence of SSA in intermetallic compounds under fast electron irradiation and the empirical alloy parameters for predicting the solid-solution-formation tendency in HEAs was discussed. The occurrence of SSA in intermetallic compounds was hardly predicted, only by the alloy parameters of δ or ΔHmix, which have been widely used for predicting solid-solution formation in HEAs. All intermetallic compounds with ΔHmix ≤ -35 kJ/mol and those with δ ≥ 12.5 exhibit the occurrence of SSA. This implies that the intermetallic compounds with a largely negative ΔHmix value and a largely positive δ parameter are favorable for the occurrence of SSA.