Discovering inch-diameter metallic glasses in three-dimensional composition space

We have discovered low-cost bulk metallic glasses (BMGs) with diameters as large as 16 to 25 mm based on the ordinary engineering metal Mg. We also use this example to present a new strategy, to illustrate how to navigate in three-dimensional composition space for locating the best glass-forming compositions. The extraordinary glass-forming ability demonstrated by the inch-sized BMGs has implications for future development and applications of amorphous metals. (C) 2005 American Institute of Physics.