Influence of TM and RE elements on glass formation of the ternary Al-TM-RE systems

The effects of TM and RE elements on glass formation ability (GFA) of the Al-TM-RE systems are studied systematically. The TM elements show distinct differences: critical sizes of the Al-TM-Ce systems are in the order of Ni > Co > Fe > Cu. However, the RE elements show similar effect on glass formation. These results are discussed in terms of the GFA-related factors, i.e., reduced glass transition temperature (T-rg = T-g (T-x)/T-L. where T-g, T-x and T-L are the glass transition temperature, onset crystallization temperature and liquidus temperature, respectively) and the mixing enthalpy Delta HAl-TM. A new parameter of T-L - T-g (T-x) is potentially proposed and used to evaluate the GFA of the Al-based alloys, as well as bulk glass-formers. (c) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.