Qualitative evaluation of the germination frequency in Zr–Fe binary alloy

Major thermo-physical properties data are of fundamental importance to accurate and reliable design of melting and casting processes. In this paper, we show that we can control the germination process using thermodynamics data. These data must be known for the entire period of time and temperature range of interest in any given condition. In addition, a kinetic approach is employed to predict the microstructure of alloys. Viscosity data for Zr76Fe24, are fitted with an empirical relation. The best fit allows to estimate, through the resistance to germination factor, thermodynamic proprieties of interest (i.e., namely the enthalpy of fusion, the surface tension, the molar volume and the glass temperature). From the values of these quantities, the parameters (T, t) can be estimated. The temperature T is found between 930 K and 1194 K and the time t can be derived from the plateau of the germination frequency–temperature profile.