The reversible enthalpy change of the metallic glass Fe40Ni40B20 ? Experiments and simulation in the activation energy spectrum model

Abstract

The activation energy spectrum model can be used quite successfully to explain various aspects of the kinetics of structural relaxation in metallic glasses. In order to describe the often observed reversible component in a more quantitative way in the framework of this model an expression for the temperature dependence of the reversible part of the activation energy spectrum is derived. Using this expression three experiments concerning the reversible enthalpy change during structural relaxation are simulated and the results are compared with the actual experimental traces.