Structural, thermal and electrical properties of Al-rich metallic glasses

Thermophysical and structural analysis of Al-rich amorphous alloys Al₉₁La₉, Al₉₀Ce₁₀ has been performed. The results of the thermal and electrical measurements are in agreement with X-ray diffraction. Data characterize a consequence of events during an annealing process of the glassified ribbons. The influence of an initial temperature of the melt on the glass formation of alloys has been traced. X-ray-absorption fine-structure (XAFS) data on the metallic glass Al₉₁La₉ and the final crystalline phase La₃Al₁₁ formed by annealing of the glass were measured at La L₃ edge and analyzed using the radial distribution function (RDF) method. Structural characteristics of the crystal and glass (coordination numbers, disorder in local environment) have been measured at T = 12 K. The difference between the local structures of the glass and the crystal is quantified. The shortest La - Al distance 3.09±0.05 angstrom revealed within the glass appears to be distinctively smaller than in the crystal La₃Al₁₁ (3.21±0.05 angstrom). This difference agrees with the hypothesis of 'collapse' of La atoms caused by the 5d→4f electron transition.