Effect of Y on the glass forming ability of the Fe–Nb system studied by ion beam mixing

•The phase formation and transformations induced by ion beam mixing were observed.•The addition of Y could extend the glass forming range of the Fe–Nb system.•When the addition of Y exceeded 42 at%, the glass forming ability would be deteriorated.

Ion beam mixing experiments were carried out to investigate the effect of the Y addition on the glass forming ability and associated structural phase transformations of the Fe–Nb binary metal system. The results show that the addition of Y could extend the glass forming range of the Fe–Nb system from 25–75 at% Fe to 10–80 at% Fe, yet while the addition of Y exceeded 42 at%, the glass forming ability would be deteriorated. The effect of Y is considered to be attributed to the competition between the big size difference of the component metals and large positive heat of mixing of Y–Nb.