Glassy dynamics as seen by neutron Compton scattering: the case of amorphous alloy Zr40Be60.

The thermal stability and structure of binary amorphous Zr - Be alloys have been studied by us previously using differential scanning calorimetry and ND over a wide concentration range (30 < x<65). The studied amorphous system involved the composition range around the eutectic composition with boundary phases. It has been found that the crystallization of alloys with low beryllium contents (“hypoeutectic” alloys with x<40) proceeds in two stages. At higher beryllium contents (“hypereutectic” alloys), one phase transition of the amorphous phase to a mixture of the alpha-Zr and ZrBe phases has been observed. This proposal seeks MANSE and neutron diffraction signs of thermal stability, vitrification and crystallisation of Zr40Be60 system by obtaining Zr and Be kinetic energies at temperatures T=1000 and 1200K below, 1600 at, and 1700K, above the crystalisation temperature.