Estimation of the glass forming ability of the Ni–Zr and the Cu–Zr alloys

Thermodynamic assessments of the Ni–Zr and the Cu–Zr binary systems were carried out using thermodynamic properties obtained in a wide range of temperatures. The associated solution model was applied to describe the short range ordering in the liquid. The critical cooling rates for the glass formation were estimated from the optimized parameter set, and compared with experimental data. In both the Cu–Zr and the Ni–Zr systems, the minimum critical cooling rate was found in alloys with compositions around 35 at.% Zr. Smaller critical cooling rates in the Cu–Zr system than those in the Ni–Zr alloys suggest that Cu–Zr alloys have higher GFA than Ni–Zr alloys.