Influence of substitution of La by Ce on the glass forming ability and crystallization behavior of Al–Ni–La alloys

• Wedge-shaped samples were suction cast with casting conditions controlled.
• Partial substitution of La by Ce decreases the GFA of Al85.5Ni9.5La5.
• Partial substitution of La by Ce increases the GFA of other Al–Ni–La alloys.
• The GFA was analyzed from the thermodynamic and topological points of view.

Wedge-shaped samples of Al–Ni–(La–Ce) alloys were suction cast under an identical preparation condition, and their glass forming abilities (GFAs) and crystallization behaviors were compared. It was revealed that the partial substitution of La by Ce decreases the GFA of Al85.5Ni9.5La5 alloy but increases the GFAs of Al87.5Ni7.5La5, Al86.5Ni8.5La5, Al86Ni9La5 and Al86Ni9.5La4.5 alloys. Meantime the crystallization behavior significantly changes. The optimal substitution content of La for glass formation depends on the composition of the base alloy. The lower the Ni content in the base alloy, the more the La content to be substituted. The GFA change with the substitution content is determined by the atomic packing efficiencies of the La (Ce)-centered clusters.