Viscosity measurements for Fe–Ni–B and Fe–Ni–Al–B liquid alloys by an oscillating crucible method

The viscosity of (Fe1−XNiX)83B17 (X=0, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75 and 1.0 atomic fractions) and (Fe0.25Ni0.75)78Al5B17 liquid alloys has been measured by an oscillating crucible method in the temperature range from melting temperature (Tm) up to about 1400 °C. In the (Fe1−XNiX)83B17 liquid alloys, the viscosity decreased with increasing Ni content up to about X=0.5 and then increased to a maximum value at X=0.75. The activation energy for viscous flow decreased to the minimum value of about 37 kJ/mol at X=0.75. This composition is well consistent with those of the Fe–Ni–B alloys having a large glass-forming ability. When Al is added in the (Fe0.25Ni0.75)83B17 alloy, the liquid viscosity further increased while the activation energy for viscous flow decreased to about 33 kJ/mol.