Effects of the TM/Ce content on the stability of amorphous Al–TM–Ce alloys

X-ray diffraction (XRD) and differential scanning calorimetry were used to investigate the crystallization process of amorphous Al90TMxCe10−x alloys. Ageing effects were also examined by means of XRD. The structure corresponding to the prepeak for amorphous Al90Fe5Ce5 alloys is more stable than the amorphous matrix. However, amorphous Al90Ni5Ce5 alloys are not stable during the first crystallization stage, and even decompose at room temperature. The crystallization onset temperature for amorphous Al–Fe–Ce alloys is much higher than that for amorphous Al–Ni–Ce alloys. This is probably caused by the different stability of the structure corresponding to the prepeak. The crystallization onset temperature increases as the Ce/Ni ratio increases in amorphous Al90NixCe10−x alloys. However, the crystallization onset temperature decreases as the Ce/Fe ratio increases in amorphous Al90FexCe10−x alloys. A better atomic packing results as the Ce content increases due to size mismatch in Al–Ni–Ce systems and as the Fe content increases due to the increasing size of structural units in Al–Fe–Ce systems.