Influence of Pd on crystallization of Al-Ni-Sm-based ribbons

The five-stage devitrification of rapidly quenched Al89Ni6Sm5 and Al86Ni6Sm5Pd3 ribbons has been studied by differential scanning calorimetry and electrical resistivity measurements. The formed phases have been identified by X-ray diffraction, transition electron microscopy and high-temperature differential thermal analysis. In the first stage spherical fcc-Al nano-particles develop with a very high density. After the sequential formation and modification of the grown phases the equilibrium fcc-Al, Al3Ni, Al3Sm, Al4Sm and Al11Sm3, eventually, equivalent with the equilibrium phases in related master-alloys have been developed. The stabilizing effect of Pd on both thermodynamics and kinetics of individual transformations has been analyzed.