FORMATION AREA OF AMORPHOUS THIN V-ZR FILMS PREPARED BY COCONDENSATION ON HOT SUBSTRATES

Thin V100-xZrx-films of various compositions (10 less-than-or-equal-to x less-than-or-equal-to 87) are cocondensed onto hot substrates (280 K less-than-or-equal-to T(S) less-than-or-equal-to 803 K). The formation area of amorphous films is determined by X-ray diffraction. Crystallization temperatures are measured and crystallization products are identified. The glass formation area extends at room temperature from 15 at%-Zr to 69 at%-Zr. V60Zr40-films become amorphous up to 753 K. The extent of the glass formation area of V-Zr is quite similar to those of Co-Zr and Cu-Zr, although the heats of mixing of the three systems differ enormously. We conclude that the glass formation area of cocondensed Vanadium-Zirconium films is not determined by thermodynamical data, but seems to be dominated by the kinetic constraints of the cocondensation process.