Nonequilibrium Crystalline and Amorphous Fe–Cu–Ag Ternary Alloys Produced by Vapor Quenching

Fe1−y(Cu1−xAgx)y alloys sputter-deposited on liquid nitrogen-cooled substrates have been investigated by X-ray diffraction and differential scanning calorimetry. Although this ternary alloy system is typically immiscible in the equilibrium state, a single bcc phase is formed at the Fe-rich corner and a single fcc phase at the Cu- and Ag-rich corners, while an amorphous phase is formed in the central concentration region. The formation of the single bcc and fcc phases is consistent with the results of the vapor quenched binary Fe–Cu, Fe–Ag and Cu–Ag alloys. However, the formation of the single amorphous phase is a new aspect for the vapor quenched ternary Fe–Cu–Ag alloys. The crystallization temperature of amorphous alloys is about 400 K, being insensitive to the alloy concentration.