Atomic-scale heterogeneity of a multicomponent bulk metallic glass with excellent glass forming ability.
We report the atomic structure of a multicomponent Cu45Zr45Ag10 bulk metallic glass investigated by state-of-the-art experimental and computational techniques. In comparison with a binary Cu50Zr50 metallic glass, Zr-rich interpenetrating clusters centered by paired and stringed Ag atoms and Cu-rich icosahedra are widely observed in the ternary Cu45Zr45Ag10 alloy. The atomic-scale heterogeneity caused by chemical short- and medium-range order is found to play a key role in stabilizing the liquid phase and in improving the glass forming ability of the multicomponent alloy.
Fujita
T
T
WPI Advanced Institute for Materials Research, Tohoku University, Sendai 980-8577, Japan.
Konno
K
K
Zhang
W
W
Kumar
V
V
Matsuura
M
M
Inoue
A
A
Sakurai
T
T
Chen
M W
MW