Systematic Mapping of Icosahedral Short-Range Order in a Melt-Spun Zr36Cu64 Metallic Glass

By analyzing the angular correlations in scanning electron nanodiffraction patterns from a melt-spun Zr36Cu64 glass, the dominant local order was identified as icosahedral clusters. Mapping the extent of this icosahedral short-range order demonstrates that the medium-range order in this material is consistent with a face-sharing or interpenetrating configuration. These conclusions support results from atomistic modeling and a structural basis for the glass formability of this system.