Glass-forming ability and crystallization behavior of Nd60Al10Ni10Cu20−xFex (x = 0, 2, 4) bulk metallic glass with distinct glass transition

The effect of the iron addition on the glass-forming ability (GFA) of Nd60Al10Ni10Cu20−xFex (x=0, 2, 4) alloys has been investigated with respect to the glass transition and crystallization kinetics. The magnetic property of the as-cast samples varies from paramagnetic to ferromagnetic by partial substitution of Fe for Cu, indicating that the substitution can induce the formation of metastable phase (or cluster) and thus decreases the GFA of the alloys. The dependence of the glass transition on the heating rate was analyzed in terms of the Vogel–Fulcher–Tamman (VFT) equation. The glass-forming ability of these alloys is discussed based on the composition-dependent melting behaviour, the reduced glass transition temperature, and the fragility parameter. It is shown that substitution of Fe for Cu does not improve the glass-forming ability of the alloys and lowers the thermal stability of the alloys. The studied alloys are found to be rather strong glass formers and possess relatively low glass transition temperature.