Thermodynamics and structural relaxation in Ce-based bulk metallic glass-forming liquids

Abstract: Thermodynamics, kinetics and structural relaxation of Ce-based bulk metallic glass-forming liquid were investigated in the glass transition region by calorimetric measurements. The differences in thermodynamic functions were calculated between the supercooled liquid and crystalline state of the Ce-based alloys. Structural relaxation was studied by heating rate dependence of glass transition temperature. In terms of fragility parameter m, the Ce-based alloys were stronger liquid than other metallic glass-forming liquids. The correlation of the excellent glass-forming ability of Ce-based alloys with the thermodynamic property (Gibbs free energy) and the kinetic property (m) was discussed. The structural relaxation from glass state to the equilibrium supercooled state was well described by Tool–Narayanaswamy–Moynihan (TNM) model using the parameters derived from the calorimetric measurements. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]