CdAs2-based glasses: relation to the equilibrium crystalline phases

An attempt is made to correlate some results obtained during the investigation of glasses of CdXxAs2 systems. It is pointed out that CdAs2 has a unique position among the other di-arsenides because of the very short As-As distance. A correlation was found between the region of glass formation in the Cd-X-As ternary system and the symmetry and stability of the corresponding crystalline phases that can be separated from the melt under equilibrium cooling. There are indications, that admixtures favouring glass formation (Ge and Si) enter the glassy network of CdAs2 differently from 77 and Sb. These conclusions are in agreement with the physical measurements. The work does not actually present new experimental data, but builds a framework for analysing and explaining previously published data.