X-raydiffraction(XRD)anddifferentialscanningcalorimetry(DSC)wereusedtoinvestigatethecrystallizationprocessofamorphousAl90TMxCe10-x(atomfractionin%;TM=FeorNi;x=3,5)alloys.AgingeffectswereexaminedbyX-raydiffraction.ThestructurecorrespondingtotheprepeakfortheamorphousAl90Fe5Ce5alloyismorestablethantheamorphousmatrix,butitisnotstableforamorphousAl90Ni5Ce5alloyduringthefirstcrystallizationstageandevendecomposesatroomtemperature.AlthoughbothAl-NiandAl-Fehavestrongchemicalbonding,thecrystallizationonsettemperatureofamorphousAl-Fe-CealloysismuchhigherthanthatofamorphousAl-Ni-Cealloys,whichislikelycausedbythedifferentstabilityofthestructurecorrespondingtotheprepeak.ThecrystallizationonsettemperatureincreasesasCe/NiratioincreasesinamorphousAl90NixCe10-xalloys,whereasitdecreasesasCe/FeratioincreasesinamorphousAl90FexCe10-xalloys.AbetteratomicpackingproducesasCecontentincreasesbecauseofthesizemismatchinAlNi-CesystemsandasFecontentincreasesbecauseoftheincreasingFecentralstructuralunits.
