The bulk metallic glass formation in Zr–Al–Ni–Ti quaternary system

The optimum metallic glass compositions are located close to the intersecting line of the e/a-constant and atomic size-constant planes in a quaternary composition chart. According to these criteria, a series of Zr–Al–Ni–Ti quaternary alloys have been designed and prepared by suction casting. The electron concentration and average atomic size of two ternary glass forming alloys, Zr60Al20Ni20 and Zr53Al23.5Ni23.5, have been used. Pure glass state is reached only within a small composition range of Ti. Ti addition deteriorates the thermal stabilities, but maintains the same glass forming abilities of bulk metallic glasses.