Effect of hydrogen on the amorphous structure of the alloy Mg65Cu25Y10 under electrochemical saturation

Thin ribbons of the metallic glass Mg65Cu25Y10, obtained by spinning, were saturated with atomic hydrogen from electrochemical decomposition of water. The maximum amount of absorbed hydrogen was 4 mass %. The hydrogen content was determined by hot extraction. We studied the microstructure of samples with different hydrogen contents by x-ray phase analysis (from the change in the diffuse maximum), atomic force microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. When the hydrogen content increases up to 3.6 mass %, the amorphous structure of the Mg65Cu25Y10 alloy is converted to a nanocrystalline structure, with formation of magnesium and yttrium hydrides at room temperature.