Kinetic modification of the ‘confusion principle’ for metallic glass formation

Abstract

Glass forming ability (GFA) of alloys is higher with more than three elements, higher elemental atomic size variation (>12%) and highly negative mixing enthalpy (<−12kJ/mol). Present study demonstrates that these are not sufficient criteria for good GFA. It is elaborated that the kinetic factor of phase transformations, viscosity, plays a key role to decide GFA of an alloy. Equiatomic and nonequiatomic glass forming compositions in ternary to sexinary alloy systems are utilised with the help of TTT diagrams. Selection of constituting elements (obeying thermodynamic conditions of mixing) with high viscosity helps to achieve high GFA in an alloy.