PHYSICAL-PROPERTIES OF AMORPHOUS AL90FE5CE5

Amorphous Al90Fe5Ce5, prepared by rapid solidification from the melt, shows unusual tensile strength. The authors have investigated various physical properties of this alloy. X-ray diffraction measurements indicate a mean interatomic spacing comparable to that in FCC aluminium. Thermal analysis studies show an onset of crystallisation at 543 K, corresponding to the precipitation of FCC Al in an amorphous matrix. A second exothermic reaction at 593 K corresponds to the crystallisation of the remaining amorphous component into FCC Al and an intermetallic phase, possible Al(Ce, Fe)3. The electrical resistivity is well described by the Ziman-Faber theory with a Debye temperature of approximately 200 K. Magnetic susceptibility shows the alloy to be paramagnetic and to exhibit combined Curie and Pauli behaviour. 57Fe Mossbauer effect measurements show the short range ordering of this alloy to be similar to that found in transition metal-metalloid glasses.