Correlation between thermodynamics and glass forming ability in the Al–Ce–Ni system

The Al–rich corner of ternary Al–Ce–Ni metallic glass forming system was investigated by a hybrid approach of thermodynamic modeling and first–principles calculations. A consistent thermodynamic data set for the Al–Ce–Ni system was obtained. Based on the correlation between glass forming ability and thermodynamics, we found that there are no deep eutectics in the Al–rich corner. Alloys with high GFA appear in off–eutectic area with heat of mixing ranging from −15 to −49 kJ/mol of atom, and the alloy with a local minimum driving forces show highest GFA according to the melt spinning and copper mold casting experiments and the calculation of driving force for the formation of crystalline phases in the supercooled liquid state. The nucleation driving force is the dominant factor determining the formation of amorphous phases, among several other factors such as heat of mixing, viscosity, and glass transition temperature.