Effects of gravity on the microstructure of Zr41Ti14-Cu12.5Ni10Be22.5 bulk glass forming alloy

The ZrTiCuNiBe alloy is melt and solidified by Bridgman unidirectional solidification on two gravity field orientations (the gravity field orientation is parallel and opposite to solidification direction). Effects of gravity on morphology and microstructure are investigated by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). When gravity field orientation is parallel to solidification direction, less needle-like primary phase is embedded in a matrix eutectic; when gravity field orientation is opposite to solidification direction, a large amount of coarser needle-like primary phases were observed.