Double-stage glass transition in a metallic glass

Glass-transition region is still a somewhat dark area in the field of materials science. In order to shed more light on this phenomenon, the glass-transition behavior was studied in a Zr(55)Cu(30)Al(10)Ni(5) glassy alloy by monitoring its specific-heat capacity measured using a differential scanning calorimeter during heating in a step-scan mode. This reduces the influence of kinetic effects which shield the transition. It is suggested that two types of relaxation (likely related to the diffusivities of different alloying elements Cu and Ni on the one hand as well as Zr and Al on the other hand) take place and compete in the glass-transition region.