Bulk glass formation in the Ni–Zr–Ti–Nb–Si–Sn alloy system

In this study, the effect of addition of Nb on glass formation in Ni–Ti–Zr–Si–Sn alloys has been studied. The composition range for bulk glass formation with D_max > 2 mm (D_max, maximum diameter for glass formation by injection cast method) becomes wider when compared with the non-Nb–containing alloy. The ΔT_x (= T_x – T_g; T_x, crystallization onset temperature; T_g, glass transition temperature), T_rg (= T_g/T_l; T_l, liquidus temperature) and γ [= T_x/(T_l + T_g)] values for the alloys D_max > 2 mm are in the range of 40–59, 0.638–0.651, and 0.410–0.419, respectively. The compositions of the alloys (D_max > 2 mm) are closer to pseudo-eutectic composition than that of the alloy without Nb, showing an improved glass forming ability. The critical cooling rate for glass formation (D_max = 5 mm) is estimated to be order of approximately 40 K/s.