Review of structural models for the compositional interpretation of metallic glasses

Composition interpretation of metallic glasses with high glass-forming abilities is an important issue, which relies on insights into their complex atomic structures. With the aim of illustrating the advance in structural modelling of metallic glasses, representative atomic and electronic structural models are summarised in this review, including Bernal’s dense random packing model, Gaskell’s stereochemical model, Miracle’s efficient cluster packing model, Nagel and Tauc’s nearly free electron model, Häussler’s global resonance model, and our cluster-plus-glue-atom and cluster-resonance models. Their capabilities as well as limitations to interpret compositions of good glass formers are focused. With aides of these theoretical models, fairly accurate interpretation and eventually design of metallic glasses with large glass-forming abilities could be envisaged.