Density and Glass Forming Ability in Amorphous Atomic Alloys: the Role of the Particle Softness

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates that the softness of inter-atomic potentials in metallic alloys directly influences their glass forming ability by reducing the enthalpy of fusion and depressing the freezing point, explaining the small volume difference with crystals.

Contribution

It reveals the role of particle softness in determining glass forming ability and volume differences in amorphous alloys, linking inter-atomic potentials to glass formation.

Findings

Soft repulsive potentials cause small volume differences.

Particle softness decreases enthalpy of fusion.

Softness enhances glass forming ability.

Abstract

A key property of glass forming alloys, the anomalously small volume difference with respect to the crystal, is shown to arise as a direct consequence of the soft repulsive potentials between metals. This feature of the inter-atomic potential is demonstrated to be responsible for a significant component of the glass forming ability of alloys due to the decrease in the enthalpy of fusion and the associated depression of the freezing point.