Induced crystallization of an amorphous Cu-Zr alloy

The crystallization behaviour of the amorphous Cu₆₀Zr₄₀ has been examined by simultaneous deformation and annealing, just below the crystallization temperature T_c. This treatment causes a heterogeneous nucleation and growth of small crystals, belonging to the Cu₁₀Zr₇ phase near the Cu₆₀Zr₄₀ composition. It was also found that subsequent annealing at temperatures $\text{T}\text{≤}\text{T}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>c</mtext><mtext>?</mtext>}}$ does not accelerate the crystal growth, but results in a copious nucleation surrounding the single crystals.