Universal criterion for metallic glass formation

It is proposed that a simple criterion for topological instability applied to local atomic structure can explain a wide variety of phase transition phenomena involving metallic elements and alloys. These include melting, alloy formation, glass transition, solid state amorphization, and glass formation by rapid quenching. It can also provide a microscopic basis to explain the local structure of metallic glasses and their relaxation phenomena. Such simple theories are complementary to precise numerical computational theories in facilitating full understanding of the phenomena. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science S.A.