Determination of the mechanical properties of amorphous Ni-Cr-P alloys

The mechanical properties of Ni(80-x) Cr(x) P(20) amorphous alloys (with x=0–40 at % in steps of 5 at %), produced by melt spinning, have been determined. The amorphous nature of the alloys was confirmed by X-ray diffraction. Differential scanning calorimetry showed that the crystallization temperatures increased with increasing chromium content. Microhardness measurements, made on both the wheel and free sides of the as-cast ribbons, revealed the presence of a gradient in hardness through the thickness of the specimens. Dynamic Young's modulus was measured with the piezoelectric ultrasonic composite oscillator technique and tensile fracture strengths were determined by uniaxial tensile testing of selected ribbons. Correlations were developed among the various properties to gain an insight into the structure/properties relations for these materials.