Glass forming ability and in-situ composite formation in Pd-based bulk metallic glasses Original Research Article

Pd60−xNi10Cu30Px alloys with x=10–20 were prepared by chill-casting, Bridgman solidification and melt spinning, giving a cooling rate range from 0.63 to ∼106 K/s. The effects of P content on the glass forming ability and in-situ bulk metallic glass (BMG) matrix composite formation in these alloys have been studied. Glass forming ability of the Pd–Ni–Cu–P alloys improves with increasing P content. This is interpreted in terms of the reduced glass transition temperature Trg given by Tg/TL and the crystallization rate constant KT. F.c.c α-Pd crystalline phase reinforced BMG matrix composites have been synthesized in a wide range of compositions. The formation of the in-situ BMG matrix composite is explained qualitatively in terms of competition between eutectic growth and amorphous phase formation.