Structural study of Be43HfxZr57-x metallic glasses by X-ray and neutron diffraction

The Faber-Ziman partial structure factors of the Be43Hf xZr57-x glasses are calculated from the combination of one time-of-flight neutron diffraction measurement in the alloy with x = 25 at % and three X-ray diffraction measurements in the alloys with x = 5, 25, and 54 at % using the isomorphous substitution between Hf and Zr atoms. The Bhatia-Thornton partial structure factors are then deduced. From the partial radial distribution functions the partial coordination numbers are calculated and allow the generalized Warren chemical order parameter α 1 in the first coordination shell to be determined. The upper radius of the first shell is well defined by the position of the first minimum of the GNN function located at 3.8 A. Thus, we find a value of - 0.033 for α1 which indicates a slight tendency of chemical ordering.