Glass formation in the Pd–Si-based alloys

Abstract

Taking into account the importance of undercooling on glass formation, we propose a new criterion which allowed us to predict the best glass-forming composition, namely Pd₇₈Ag_5.5Si_16.5, among selected Pd–Si-based alloys ranging from binary to quaternary systems. The composition agrees well with that found experimentally. Using conventional copper mould casting, the Pd₇₈Ag_5.5Si_16.5 alloy is capable of forming fully amorphous rods with a diameter of 3 mm. The effects of Au and Ag additions on the glass-forming ability of the selected Pd–Si-based alloys have been investigated.

Keywords:

• alloying
• glass-forming ability
• DTA
• DSC
• metallic glass

Acknowledgements

This study was partially supported by the Research and Development Project on Advanced Metallic Glasses, Inorganic Materials and Joining Technology and Grant-in-Aid ‘Priority Area on Science and Technology of Microwave-Induced, Thermally Non-Equilibrium Reaction Field’ No: 18070001 from Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Japan. The authors appreciate the technical support by Dr H. Kato and T. Wada.