Full or partial replacement of Y by rare-earth and some other elements in the Al85Y8Ni5Co2 alloy

The present paper aims to report the effect of partial or full replacement of Y in the Al₈₅Y₈Ni₅Co₂ alloy by other rare-earth (RE) metals. Influence of small amount of Zr, Pd or Cu additions was also studied for comparison as these elements also have a negative heat of mixing with Al. The studied alloys were produced by rapid solidification of the melt. Glass-forming ability, crystallization behaviour and stability of the supercooled liquid have been studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). It has been found that additions of RE metals have not caused critical changes of the properties of the Al₈₅Y₈Ni₅Co₂ alloy while small amount of Pd or Cu additions significantly change its crystallization behaviour and destabilize the supercooled liquid. Addition of more than about 3 at.% of Zr causes precipitation of the primary Al₃Zr phase during rapid solidification.