Crystallization behavior of the bulk metallic glass forming Zr41Ti14Cu12Ni10Be23 liquid

The crystallization behavior of the undercooled bulk metallic glass forming Zr41Ti14Cu12Ni10Be23 liquid is investigated. Isothermal undercooling experiments are carried out on samples cooled from the equilibrium melt as well as on amorphous samples heated into the supercooled liquid region. The large stability against crystallization of this alloy enables isothermal crystallization studies at the same temperature on amorphous samples heated and samples cooled from above the liquidus temperature. Results are compared with constant heating and cooling experiments. A rate of about 1 K/s is sufficient to suppress crystallization of the melt upon cooling from the equilibrium liquid. Upon heating amorphous samples, in contrast, a rate of about 200 K/s is necessary to avoid crystallization.