Nucleation kinetics model for primary crystallization in Al-Y-Fe metallic glass.

The high density of aluminum nanocrystals (>10 m) that develop during the primary crystallization in Al-based metallic glasses indicates a high nucleation rate (∼10 m s). Several studies have been advanced to account for the primary crystallization behavior, but none have been developed to completely describe the reaction kinetics. Recently, structural analysis by fluctuation electron microscopy has demonstrated the presence of the Al-like medium range order (MRO) regions as a spatial heterogeneity in as-spun AlYFe metallic glass that is representative for the class of Al-based amorphous alloys that develop Al nanocrystals during primary crystallization.