Amorphous alloy member and its application for authenticity determining device and method, and process for manufacturing amorphous alloy member

1. An authenticity determination method, comprising:

manufacturing a plurality of amorphous alloy members using a same mold, the plurality of amorphous alloy members including a first amorphous alloy member and a second amorphous alloy member,

storing in advance reference characteristic information representing a characteristic of a first irregular region of the first amorphous alloy member that is an authenticity determining reference, the first amorphous alloy member comprising the first irregular region on a surface, the first irregular region having a center line average roughness Ra of about 0.1 μm to about 1000 μm, and the first irregular region comprising an amorphous alloy having an amorphous phase at a volume ratio of about 50% to about 100%;

reading out determination subject characteristic information representing a characteristic of a second irregular region of the second amorphous alloy member that is an authenticity determining subject, the second amorphous alloy member comprising the second irregular region on a surface, the second irregular region having a center line average roughness Ra of about 0.1 μm to about 1000 μm, and the second irregular region comprising an amorphous alloy having an amorphous phase at a volume ratio of about 50% to about 100%; and

comparing the determination subject characteristic information and the reference characteristic information when the determination subject characteristic information is read out, and determining whether the second amorphous alloy member that is the authenticity determination subject is authentic or not based on the comparison result.

2. The authenticity determination method of claim 1 , wherein the center line average roughness Ra of the irregular region of the first and/or the second amorphous alloy member is about 0.1 μm to about 100 μm.

3. The authenticity determination method of claim 1 , wherein the first and/or the second amorphous alloy is at least one selected from the group consisting of a Zr-based amorphous alloy, a Hf-based amorphous alloy, a Fe-based amorphous alloy, a Co-based amorphous alloy, a Ni-based amorphous alloy, a Ti-based amorphous alloy, a Cu-based amorphous alloy, an Au-based amorphous alloy, and a La-based amorphous alloy.

4. The authenticity determination method of claim 1 , wherein the first and/or the second amorphous alloy comprises at least one composition represented by any one of the following formulae (1) to (7)

M 100-n TM n   Formula (1)

wherein in formula (1): M represents one or more elements selected from the group consisting of Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Ti, Zr and Hf; TM comprises about 1 atomic % or more of at least one element selected from the group consisting of Cr, Mo, Nb, Al, Sn and B, and a remainder that represents at least one element selected from the group consisting of transition metal elements belonging to Group 3, transition metal elements belonging to Group 4, transition metal elements belonging to Group 5, transition metal elements belonging to Group 6, transition metal elements belonging to Group 8, transition metal elements belonging to Group 9, transition metal elements belonging to Group 10, transition metal elements belonging to Group 11, typical elements belonging to Group 13, typical elements belonging to Group 14 and typical elements belonging to Group 15, but excluding Cr, Mo, Nb, the elements applied in M, Al, Sn and B; n represents atomic %; and the relationship 5≦n≦50 is satisfied;

Cu p Ti q M1 100-p-q   Formula (2)

wherein in formula (2): M1 represents at least one element selected from the group consisting of elements belonging to the iron group, elements belonging to the platinum group, elements belonging to noble metals, Al, Sn, Zn, Hf and Zr; p and q each represent atomic %, and the relationships 50≦p≦65 and 2≦q≦20 are satisfied;

Ni 100-s-t-u Nb s (Zr,Hf) t M2 u   Formula (3)

wherein in formula (3): M2 represents at least one element selected from the group consisting of elements belonging to the iron group, elements belonging to the platinum group, elements belonging to noble metals, Cu, and Ti; and, s, t and u each represent atomic %, and the relationships 10≦s≦25, 5≦t≦20, 5≦u≦25 and

10≦t+u≦35 are satisfied;

Fe 100-x-y M3 x M4 y   Formula (4)

wherein in formula (4): M3 represents at least one element selected from the group consisting of transition metal elements belonging to Group 3, transition metal elements belonging to Group 4, transition metal elements belonging to Group 5 and transition metal elements belonging to Group 6; M4 consists of one or more elements selected from the group consisting of Mn, Ru, Rh, Pd, Ga, Al, Ge, Si, B and C; x and y each represent atomic %, and the relationships 2≦x≦35 and 5≦y≦30 are satisfied;

(Fe 1-z (Co,Ni) z ) 100-x-y M3 x M4 y   Formula (5)

wherein in formula (5): M3 represents at least one element selected from the group consisting of transition metal elements belonging to Group 3, transition metal elements belonging to Group 4, transition metal elements belonging to Group 5 and transition metal elements belonging to Group 6; M4 consists of one or more elements selected from the group consisting of Mn, Ru, Rh, Pd, Ga, Al, Ge, Si, B and C; x, y and z each represent atomic %, and the relationships 2≦x≦35, 5≦y≦30 and 0.1≦z≦0.7 are satisfied;

(Zr,Hf) a M5 b M6 c   Formula (6)

wherein in formula (6): M5 represents at least one element selected from the group consisting of elements belonging to Group 3, elements belonging to Group 5, elements belonging to Group 6, elements belonging to the iron group, elements belonging to the platinum group, elements belonging to noble metals, Cu, Ti and Mn; M6 represents at least one element selected from the group consisting of Be, Zn, Al, Ga, B, C and N; a, b, and c each represent atomic %, and the relationships 30≦a≦70, 15≦b≦65 and 1≦c≦30 are satisfied; and

Ti 100-i-j-k Cu i M7 j M8 k   Formula (7)

wherein in formula (7): M7 represents at least one transition metal element selected from the group consisting of Zr, Hf, elements belonging to the iron group, and elements belonging to the platinum group; M8 represents at least one element selected from the group consisting of elements belonging to Group 3, elements belonging to Group 5, elements belonging to Group 6, Al, Sn, Ge, Si, B, and Be; i, j and k each represent atomic %; and the relationships 5≦i≦35, 10≦j≦35 and 1≦k≦20 are satisfied.

5. The authenticity determination method of claim 1 , wherein the first and/or the second amorphous alloy comprises at least one composition represented by any one of the following formulae (8) to (13):

M 1 a M 2 b Ln c M 3 d M 4 e M 5 f   Formula (8)

wherein in formula (8): M 1 represents one or two elements selected from the group consisting of Zr and Hf; M2 represents M 2 represents at least one element selected from the group consisting of Ni, Cu, Fe, Co, Mn, Nb, Ti, V, Cr, Zn, Al and Ga; Ln represents at least one element selected from the group consisting of Y, La, Ce, Nd, Sm, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Yb and Mm (mischmetal which is a mixture of rare earth elements); M 3 represents at least one element selected from the group consisting of Be, B, C, N and O; M 4 represents at least one element selected from the group consisting of Ta, W and Mo; and M 5 represents at least one element selected from the group consisting of Au, Pt, Pd and Ag; a, b, c, d, e and f each represent atomic %, and the relationships 25≦a≦85, 15≦b≦75, 0≦c≦30,

0≦d≦30, 0≦e≦15 and 0≦f≦15 are satisfied;

Al 100-g-h-i Ln g M 6 h M 6 h M 3 i   Formula (9)

wherein in formula (9): Ln represents at least one element selected from Y, La, Ce, Nd, Sm, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Yb and Mm; M 6 represents at least one element selected from the group consisting of Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zr, Nb, Mo, Hf, Ta and W; M 3 represents at least one element selected from the group consisting of Be, B, C, N and O; g, h, and i each represent atomic %, and the relationships

30≦g≦90, 0≦h≦55 and 0≦i≦10 are satisfied;

Mg 100-p M 7 p   Formula (10)

wherein in formula (10): M 7 represents at least one element selected from the group consisting of Cu, Ni, Sn, and Zn; p represents atomic %, and the relationship 5≦p≦60 is satisfied;

Mg 100-q-r M 7 q M 8 r   Formula (11)

wherein in formula (11): M 7 represents at least one element selected from the group consisting of Cu, Ni, Sn and Zn; and M 8 represents at least one element selected from the group consisting of Al, Si and Ca; q and r each represent atomic %, and the relationships 1≦q≦35 and 1≦r≦25 are satisfied;

Mg 100-q-s M 7 q M 9 s   Formula (12)

wherein in formula (12); M 7 represents at least one element selected from the group consisting of Cu, Ni, Sn and Zn; M 9 represents at least one element selected from the group consisting of Y, La, Ce, Nd, Sm and Mm; q and s each represent atomic %; and the relationships 1≦q≦35 and 3≦s≦25 are satisfied; and

Mg 100-q-r-s M 7 q M 8 r M 9 s   Formula (13)

wherein in formula (13): M 7 represents at least one element selected from the group consisting of Cu, Ni, Sn and Zn; M 8 represents at least one element selected from the group consisting of Al, Si and Ca; M 9 represents at least one element selected from the group consisting of Y, La, Ce, Nd, Sm and Mn; q, r and s each represent atomic %, and the relationships 1≦q≦35, 1≦r≦25 and

3≦s≦25 are satisfied.

6. The authenticity determination method of claim 1 , using an authenticity determination device,

the authenticity determination device, comprising:

a memory unit that stores in advance reference characteristic information representing a characteristic of a first irregular region of a first amorphous alloy member that is an authenticity determining reference, the first amorphous alloy member comprising the first irregular region on a surface, the first irregular region having a center line average roughness Ra of about 0.1 μm to about 1000 μm, and the first irregular region comprising an amorphous alloy having an amorphous phase at a volume ratio of about 50% to about 100%;

a reading out unit that reads out determination subject characteristic information representing a characteristic of a second irregular region of a second amorphous alloy member that is an authenticity determining subject, the second amorphous alloy member comprising the second irregular region on a surface, the second irregular region having a center line average roughness Ra of about 0.1 μm to about 1000 μm, and the second irregular region comprising an amorphous alloy having an amorphous phase at a volume ratio of about 50% to about 100%; and

a determination unit that, when the determination subject characteristic information is read out, compares the determination subject characteristic information and the reference characteristic information, and determines whether the second amorphous alloy member that is the authenticity determination subject is authentic or not based on the comparison result.

7. The authenticity determination method of claim 1 , wherein the first and/or the second amorphous alloy member is manufactured by a process comprising:

pouring a molten metal that is capable of manufacturing an amorphous alloy comprising at least an amorphous phase at a volume ratio of about 50% to about 100%, into a casting mold having an irregular-shaped region having a center line average roughness Ra of about 0.1 μm to about 1000 μm on a surface, so that the molten metal comes into contact with at least the irregular-shaped region,

hardening the molten metal poured into the casting mold, and

separating the hardened molten metal from the casting mold.

8. The authenticity determination method of claim 7 , wherein the first and/or the second amorphous alloy member is manufactured by a process that further comprises forming a ceramic-based hardened film on the surface of the first and/or the second amorphous alloy member.

9. The authenticity determination method of claim 8 , wherein the ceramic-based hardened film is a zirconia film.

10. The authenticity determination method of claim 1 , wherein the first and/or the second amorphous alloy member is manufactured by a process comprising:

disposing a forging mold having an irregular-shaped region that has been formed on the surface of the forging mold and has a center line average roughness Ra of about 0.1 μm to about 1000 μm, and an amorphous alloy substrate having a region that comprises an amorphous alloy having at least an amorphous phase at a volume ratio of about 50% to about 100% and having a center line average roughness Ra of about 0.1 μm or less, such that the irregular shaped region and the region comprising the amorphous alloy face each other; and

applying pressure to the amorphous alloy substrate to plastic-deform at least a part of the amorphous alloy substrate.