Thermodynamic model to predict bulk metallic glass forming composition in Zr-Cu-Fe-Al system and understanding the role of Dy addition

Abstract In the present investigation, we propose a theoretical approach to design the Zr-rich glass forming composition in Ni-free Zr-Cu-Al-Fe quaternary system under the thermodynamic framework. In this work, quaternary composition is designed by optimising chemical interaction and topological features among the constituent elements to determine enthalpy of chemical mixing ( Δ H c h e m ) and atomic size mismatch entropy ( Δ S σ / k B ) in a statistical framework of configurational entropy ( Δ S c o n f i g / R ) . Further, the effect of elemental Al and Fe addition in the Zr-Cu system on the glass forming ability (GFA) is analysed from thermodynamic viewpoint. Also, an attempt is made to understand the effect of Dy addition on thermodynamics and GFA of Zr-Cu-Al-Fe system. Subsequently, Zr62Cu22Al10Fe5Dy1 bulk metallic glass was synthesized for further investigation.