Scattering study of vitrifying Cr-Ti solutions

The configurations involved in the spontaneous vitrification of quenched Cr-Ti β-phase alloys were investigated by X-ray diffraction and elastic neutron scattering. The two methods yield complementary information: X-rays are sensitive to the topology whereas neutrons emphasize the chemical fluctuations. The results show the presence of two simultaneous but opposing processes, the formation of CsCl-type chemical short range order on one hand and progressive structural disordering on the other. The latter ultimately leads to amorphization. The probable reason for this behavior is that at the temperature in question only the chromium atoms are mobile.