Combining combinatorial nanocalorimetry and X-ray diffraction techniques to study the effects of composition and quench rate on Au–Cu–Si metallic glasses

Combinatorial nanocalorimetry is used to characterize at a heating rate of 3 × 104 K s−1 the glass transition, crystallization and melting of Au–Cu–Si metallic glasses that were quenched at 2 × 102 to 2 × 104 K s-1. These experiments are performed over an array of 22 compositions and combined with synchrotron X-ray diffraction measurements, which enable analysis of the complex crystallization and vitrification of these alloys. The unprecedented scanning rates and direct measurement of the critical cooling rate for vitrifcation will have a significant impact on metallic glass research.