Atomic structure of Zr-Cu-Al and Zr-Ni-Al amorphous alloys

We report on the atomic structure via pair distribution function (PDF) analysis of metallic glasses of the Zr-Cu-Al and Zr-Ni-Al families. The PDFs were evaluated from the X-ray diffraction data. Transmission X-ray diffraction spectra of the investigated samples were measured using monochromatic, high-energy synchrotron radiation. In this work we demonstrate the effect of composition on the pair distribution functions. A variation of first PDF peak shape was observed on modification of Cu and Al content. A split of the first PDF peak was found to be more pronounced in Zr-Ni-Al than in Zr-Cu-Al glasses suggesting differences in their atomic structures.