Characteristics of near-eutectic and off-eutectic Zr–Al–Ni–Cu glass forming alloys

The glass forming ability (GFA) and behavior of glass transition and onset crystallization for near-eutectic and off-eutectic Zr–Al–Ni–Cu metallic glasses were investigated by non-isothermal test. The results show that, as for near-eutectic alloy, the glass transition temperature Tg is more sensitive to the heating rate than the onset crystallization temperature Tx. The apparent activation energy of glass transition Eg is greater than that of onset crystallization Ex, and the greatest among metallic glasses studied. Its critical cooling rate Rc is the lowest among metallic glasses studied. Moreover, the further the distance from near-eutectic composition, the larger is the Rc for glass forming alloy.