Strategy for pinpointing the best glass-forming alloys

Abstract

We present a model for the glass forming ability (GFA), based on phase selection of the glass over all the competing crystalline phases. Our analysis indicates that the best glass-forming zone can be either symmetric, or asymmetric, about the eutectic composition. Based on the model predictions we outline a microstructure-based strategy to pinpoint the off-eutectic composition with the optimum GFA. The practical implementation and significance of the strategy is demonstrated by discovering bulk metallic glasses in Zr–Cu and Zr–Cu–Al systems.