Effects of Ce and Mm additions on the glass forming ability of Al–Ni–Si metallic glass alloys

The effects of Ce and Mm contents on the glass forming ability (GFA) of melt-quenched Al89−xNi8CexSi3 and Al89−xNi8MmxSi3 (x = 0, 1, 3, 5, 7 at.%) alloys have been systematically investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). According to the XRD and DSC results, both Ce and Mm elements can enhance the GFA and thermal stability of the Al–Ni–Si alloys. Moreover, only the x = 5 and x = 7 alloys are totally amorphous in both systems quenched at the wheel speed of 36.6 m/s. Compared with amorphous Al84Ni8Ce5Si3 alloy at different cooling rates, amorphous Al84Ni8Mm5Si3 alloy has higher GFA which is considered to have relation to the different atomic structure of the amorphous alloy.