Identifying bulk metallic glass-formers from multi-component eutectics

Multi-component eutectics are potentially bulk metallic glass (BMG)-formers, making their compositions the best starting points in the development of BMGs. Here we formulate a thermodynamic strategy to pin down BMG-formers from invariant eutectic compositions calculated using a Calphad approach. Taking Zr–Ti–Cu–Ni as a model system, we demonstrate that 4 out of 14 thermodynamically predicted eutectics are BMG-formers, and, more strikingly, 2 of them are associated with the experimentally observed Zr–Cu-rich and Ti–Cu-rich BMG-forming regions. A variety of new amorphous alloys are also expected by tailoring the compositions of the other 2 BMG-forming eutectics.