Multiscale characterization of nanostructured Al–Si–Zr alloys obtained by rapid solidification method

Properties of engineering metallic alloys (e.g., fracture toughness, corrosion resistance) are often limited by the presence of primary intermetallic particles which form during conventional solidification. Rapid solidification brings about much more homogenous amorphous and/or nanocrystalline structure with reduced density of primary particles. Rapidly solidified thin ribbons obtained by melt spinning are usually considered as intrinsically homogenous. However, due to different cooling conditions at the wheel surface and on the side exposed to the ambient environment, structure of such ribbons may vary significantly across its thickness. The materials studied in this study were 30–40 μm thickness ribbons of nanocrystalline hyper- and hypo-eutectic Al–Si–Zr alloys produced by melt-spinning method. Transmission electron microscopy and high resolution scanning transmission electron microscopy were used to characterize the structure homogeneity across the ribbons. Thin foils for transmission observations were prepared by focused ion beam system. Microstructural observations confirmed nanocrystalline character of Al–Si–Zr alloys. However, these observations revealed inhomogeneity of the structure across the ribbon width.