Formation of Amorphous Metal By Hypervelocity Impact

The Center for Electromechanics at The University of Texas at Austin has investigated the use of an electromagnetic railgun accelerator for the deposition of non-crystalline metals. The two main objectives of the study were to produce non-crystalline metal deposits in single thin layers (˷ 25lJm thick) and to determine the feasibility of building thicker layers by making multiple deposits. Deposits have been analyzed using a variety of techniques, including electrical resistivity and resistivity ratio, x-ray diffraction, and transmission electron microscopy. Differential scanning calorimetry was carried out at Battelle Columbus Laboratories. The measurements show that CEM-UT -has produced non-crystalline Fe78B13Si9 deposits. Single and multiple-layer non-crystalline deposits with thicknesses of up to 36 µm have been produced, and the upper thickness limit of the technique has not yet been determined.