Optimization of bulk metallic glass forming compositions in Zr–Cu–Al system by thermodynamic modeling

Compositions with high glass forming ability have been identified in Zr–Cu–Al system with the help of a thermodynamic parameter, which takes into account the enthalpy of chemical mixing (ΔHchem), the mismatch entropy normalized by Boltzmannʹs constant (Sσ/kB) and the configurational entropy (Sconfig/R). The best bulk metallic glass forming composition is identified as the one at ΔHchem and Sσ/kB maxima in a specific range of Sconfig/R. A product of thermodynamic parameters ( Δ H chem × S σ / k B ) is found to have strong correlation with glass forming ability and can help to identify the exact composition that can form bulk metallic glass.