Prediction of glass-forming compositions using liquidus temperature calculations

A predictive model for metallic glass compositional design was constructed based upon the calculated liquidus temperatures. Furthermore, a parameter, termed a, was defined in order to quantify the relative depth of a eutectic in an alloy system. Large alpha parameters signify higher glass-forming ability. Comparisons of this theory and experimental results given in literature from varied sources and alloy types, show that compositions containing relatively high alpha values correspond to successfully produced bulk metallic glasses. Specifically, an alpha parameter value in excess of I suggests a slight tendency for glass formation, while a values greater than 1.5 suggest a very strong tendency. Thus, the a parameter can serve as a tool for quantifying potential bulk metallic glass alloys in terms of limiting their requirement for rapid quenching. This technique is appropriate for both constituent element selection and composition optimization. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.