Gruppo di Fisica Statistica

Amorphous FexSn1-x alloys obtained by a deposition technique were investigated using resistivity measurements, electron microscopy and electron diffracti shown to take place at temperatures ranging from room temperature (x = 0.30) to 520 K (x = 0.75). Depending on the alloy composition, crystallization has been found to result in a decrease (0.30 < x < 0.37) or an increase (0.37 < x < 0.75) in the resistivity. Diffraction patterns showed a strong composition dependence of the relative intensities of the diffuse rings that was typical of the amorphous state and gave evidence of crystallization through spherulitic nucleation and growth of mostly FeSn2 and Fe5Sn3 compounds.