Aerodynamic levitation processing of a Zr-based bulk metallic glass

Containerless aerodynamic levitation was used to produce the bulk metallic glass Zr57Ti5Ni8Cu20Al10. Samples were processed from the liquid state at cooling rates in the range of 69–1.2 K/s. The alloy was found to vitrify at cooling rates from 69 to 11 K/s and recalesced at the slower cooling rates. X-ray diffraction confirmed that the specimens processed faster than the critical cooling rate were primarily amorphous. The processing method and its applicability to other systems are discussed.