Structure relaxation spectrum of metallic glasses

Abstract

The structural relaxation spectra of (Pd0.6Ni0.4) 0.80P0.20 and Pd0.775Cu0.06Si0.165 metallic glasses have been obtained with a differential scanning calorimeter. The relaxation spectrum exhibits two distinguishable broad features: a low and high activation energy spectrum. The low activation energy spectrum peaks at activation energy ε≈22 kcal/mole. The intensity of the low activation energy spectrum relative to the total spectrum decreases with decreasing quenching rate. Implications of these phenomena are discussed. The observed heat of relaxation of the glasses is in fair agreement with the value calculated from viscosity data using the entropy model of viscous flow.