Influence of kinetic and thermodynamic factors on the glass-forming ability of zirconium-based bulk amorphous alloys

The time-temperature-transformation curves for three zirconium-based bulk amorphous alloys are measured to identify the primary factors influencing their glass-forming ability. The melt viscosity is found to have the most pronounced influence on the glass-forming ability compared to other thermodynamic factors. Surprisingly, it is found that the better glass former has a lower crystal-melt interfacial tension. This contradictory finding is explained by the icosahedral short-range order of the undercooled liquid, which on one hand reduces the interfacial tension, while on the other hand increases its viscosity.