Glass forming and thermal properties of the Mg65Cu25Gd10-xNdx (x=0∼10) amorphous alloys

The Mg65Cu25Gd10-xNdx (x=0 similar to 10) amorphous alloy rods with 3 similar to 6 mm in diameter were prepared by Cu-mold injection method. The thermal properties and mechanical properties of these amorphous alloys have been investigated by DSC, SEM with EDS capability, X-ray diffractometry (XRD) and Vickers hardness test. The XRD revealed that these entire as-quenched Mg65Cu25Gd10-xNdx alloy rods exhibit a broaden diffraction pattern of amorphous phase. A clear T-g (glass transition temperature) and supercooled region (about 30 similar to 60 K) were revealed for all of those Mg65Cu25Gd10-xNdx alloys. In addition, the single stage crystallization of the Mg65Cu25Gd10 alloy was found to change into two stages crystallization when the Nd element was added into this alloy. In parallel, the crystallization temperature (T-x) and supercooled region (Delta T-x) presents a decreasing trend with increasing Nd content. The lowest liquidus temperature (T-1, about 721 K) occurs at the Mg65Cu25Gd8Nd2 alloy. In addition, The Mg65Cu25Gd8Nd2 alloy exhibits the high gamma value (0.416, (0.59, defined as gamma= T-x/T-g+T-l), a relatively high T-rg (0.59, defined as T-rg = T-g/T-l) and the highest hardness in these alloys.