Features of Amorphization of the Fe-TM-Nd-REM-B Alloys System at Melt Quenching by Gas Atomization

Gas atomization powders (GAP) chemical composition which corresponds to the first area of the phase equilibrium, and the fraction that ensures a cooling rate of a separate powder particle of more than 103K/s contains an amorphous component of two types: the first (AC1) has a chemical composition similar to that of the alloy; and the second (AC2) has a chemical composition of the triple eutectic. AC1 is mostly localized on the surface of the powder particles (in the form of layers, shells, nodules) or are detected in the whole volume of the spherical powder particles with its size less than 5 μm. The authors hold that during gas atomization, powder particles of this size have a cooling rate ≥ 105 K/s. Alloys having a similar chemical composition at similar cooling rates are also amorphized by quenching from the liquid state. This proves that an amorphous alloy of the first type is formed directly from a supercooled melt. While AC2 (enriched by Nd) is formed on the border or in the between the crystal phase Fe14Nd2B of the remaining (after primary crystallization during the primary phase) melt enriched by the moment of the solidification of Nd.