Thermodynamics and structural relaxation in Ce-based bulk metallic glass-forming liquids

Abstract

Thermodynamics, kinetics and structural relaxation of Ce-based bulk metallic glass-forming liquid were investigated in the glass transition region by calorimetric measurements. The differences in thermodynamic functions were calculated between the supercooled liquid and crystalline state of the Ce-based alloys. Structural relaxation was studied by heating rate dependence of glass transition temperature. In terms of fragility parameter m, the Ce-based alloys were stronger liquid than other metallic glass-forming liquids. The correlation of the excellent glass-forming ability of Ce-based alloys with the thermodynamic property (Gibbs free energy) and the kinetic property ( m) was discussed. The structural relaxation from glass state to the equilibrium supercooled state was well described by Tool–Narayanaswamy–Moynihan (TNM) model using the parameters derived from the calorimetric measurements.