Published online by Cambridge University Press: 03 March 2011
Compositional and microstructural differences from bottom to top along a water-quenched Zr41Ti14Cu12.5Ni10Be22.5 alloy rod, 90 mm in length and 22 mm in diameter, were investigated experimentally by x-ray diffraction measurement, differential scanning calorimetry, and composition analysis. The results show that the upper part of the rod contains more beryllium atoms and is amorphous. The lower part with less beryllium atoms contains crystalline phases. The composition gradient is possibly due to the gravity-driven transport of Be-rich clusters and un-melted tiny solid pieces in the alloy melt.