D max rb xrd

The microstructures of the mullite nanowhisker array were examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM, FEI Nova 230 Nano), Transmission electron microscopy (TEM, Tecnai G2 F30 S-TWIN) and Rigaku D/max-RB XRD respectively.

Zr₃₈Cu₄₀Ag₇Al₇O₈ (at.%) ingot were prepared by arc-melting the mixtures of pure Zr, Cu, Ag and Al (>99.4 mass%) in an argon atmosphere with small amount of air. (The true composition of the Zr-Cu-Ag-Al-O ingot was investigated by EDS in SEM.) To achieve chemical homogeneity, each ingot was remelted for at least 4 times. Then Zr-Cu-Ag-Al-O ribbons with dimensions of ~6 mm in width and ~70 μm in thickness were prepared by employing a single-roller melt-spinner. Zr₄₈Cu₃₆Ag₈Al₈ (at.%) MG ribbon was prepared by the same procedure but without air introducing during the arc-melting process. The Zr₄₈Cu₃₆Ag₈Al₈ MG ribbon possesses a wide of ~8 mm and a thickness of ~30 μm. The structure of the as-prepared Zr₃₈Cu₄₀Ag₇Al₇O₈ and Zr₄₈Cu₃₆Ag₈Al₈ ribbon samples with dimensions of ~6 mm × 8 mm × 70 μm and ~8 mm × 8 mm × 30 μm, respectively, were examined by Rigaku D/max-RB XRD with monochromatic Cu Kα radiation. All the XRD spectra were obtained at a scanning rate of 8 degrees per min with a detecting step of 0.02 degree. All the EDS experiments were operated at a voltage of 20 KV with an acquisition time of ~5 min to make selected elements (Cu, Al, O) K shell peak over 10000 counts and (Zr, Ag) L shell peak over 5000 counts.