Differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) is employed to study the crystallization kinetics of irradiated (at three different fluences with high-energy heavy ion; Ni¹¹⁺ of 150 MeV) specimens of two Co-based metallic glasses. It is found that the crystallization process in both the glasses is completed in two phases. The DSC data have been analysed in terms of kinetic parameters viz. activation energy (𝐸_𝑐), Avrami exponent (𝑛), dimensionality of growth (𝑚), using two different theoretical models. The results obtained have been compared with that of virgin samples. The lower activation energy in case of second crystallization occurring at higher temperature indicates the easier nucleation of second phase. The abnormally high value of Avrami exponent in Co–Ni glass indicates very high nucleation rate during first crystallization.

The oxidation behaviour of Zr-based bulk amorphous alloy Zr₆₅Cu_17.5Ni₁₀Al_7.5 has been studied in air environment at various temperatures in the temperature range 591–684 K using a thermogravimetric analyser (TGA). The oxidation kinetics of the alloy in the amorphous phase obeys the parabolic rate law for oxidation in the temperature range 591–664 K. The values of the activation energy and pre-factor as calculated from the Arrhenius temperature dependence of the rate constants have been found to be 1.80 eV and 2.12 × 10⁹ g cm^–2.sec^–1/2, respectively.

Potentiodynamic polarization studies were carried out on virgin specimens of amorphous alloys Ti₄₈Cu₅₂, Ti₅₀Cu₅₀ and Ti₆₀Ni₄₀ in 0.5 M HNO₃, 0.5 M H₂SO₄ and 0.5 M NaOH aqueous media at room temperature. The value of the corrosion current density (𝐼_corr) was maximum for Ti₄₈Cu₅₂ alloy in all the three aqueous media as compared to the remaining two alloys. The value of 𝐼_corr for the alloy Ti₄₈Cu₅₂ was maximum (𝐼_corr = 2.6 × 10^-5 A/cm²) in 0.5 M H₂SO₄ and minimum (𝐼_corr = 3.5 × 10^-6 A/cm²) in 0.5 M NaOH aqueous solutions. In contrast, the alloy Ti₆₀Ni₄₀ exhibited the least corrosion current density in 0.5 M HNO₃ (𝐼_corr = 4.0 × 10^-7 A/cm²) and in 0.5 M NaOH (𝐼_corr = 5.5 × 10^-7 A/cm²) aqueous media as compared to those for Ti–Cu alloys, while its value in 0.5 M H₂SO₄ was comparable to that for Ti₅₀Cu₅₀. It is suggested that the alloy Ti₆₀Ni₄₀ is more corrosion resistant than the alloys Ti₄₈Cu₅₂ and Ti₅₀Cu₅₀ in all the three aqueous media.

In this paper, we have carried out thin film characterization of poly(3,4-propylenedioxythiophene)–sultone (PProDOT–S), a derivative of electrochromic poly(3,4-propylenedioxythiophene) (PProDOT). PProDOT–S was deposited onto transparent conducting oxide coated glass substrates by solution casting method. Single wavelength spectrophotometry is used to monitor the switching speed and contrast ratio at maximum wavelength (𝜆_max). The percentage transmittance at the 𝜆_max of the neutral polymer is monitored as a function of time when the polymer film is repeatedly switched. This experiment gives a quantitative measure of the speed with which a film is able to switch between the two states i.e. the coloured and the bleached states. PProDOT–S films were switched at a voltage of 1.9 V with a switching speed of 2 s at 𝜆_max of 565 nm and showed a contrast of ∼37%. Cyclic voltammetry performed at different scan rates have shown the characteristic anodic and cathodic peaks. The structural investigations of PProDOT–S films by IR spectra were in good agreement with previously reported results. Raman spectra of PProDOT–S showed a strong Raman peak at 1509 cm^-1 and a weak peak at 1410 cm^-1 due to the C = C asymmetric and symmetric stretching vibrations of thiophene rings. The morphological investigations carried out by using scanning electron microscope (SEM) of polymer films have shown that these polymers are found to be arranged in dense packed clusters with non-uniform distribution having an average width and length of 95 nm and 160 nm, respectively.