Influence of Rare Earth Metals (RE) on Formation Range and Structure of Amorphous Phase in Ge–Al–Cr–RE System

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Abstract
The influence of the additions of several rare-earth (RE) metals on the formation of an amorphous phase in the Ge–Al–Cr system alloys is discussed. Ce, Nd and La were found to be the most effective elements for production of an amorphous phase with a high content of Ge. Ge-rich alloys containing a large volume fraction of the amorphous phase were produced in the Ge–Al–Cr–RE systems by rapid solidification of the melt. As in the case of ternary Al–Ge–TM alloys, the split of the first diffuse halo was observed. Although an amorphous-type X-ray diffraction pattern observed, the structure of new multicomponent Ge-based alloys in the as-solidified state consisted of extremely small (1–2 nm) crystalline-like zones distributed homogeneously in the amorphous matrix. The size and distribution of these zones were slightly sensitive to the cooling rate while it was high enough and no crystalline peaks were observed in the X-ray diffraction pattern.