Formation of amorphous phase in the binary Cu-Zr alloy system

The aim of this work is to elucidate the formation of the amorphous phase in the Cu-Zr binary alloy system. It was found that 1 mm diameter rods with a fully amorphous structure can be prepared in a relatively wide range of compositions. In contrast, the formation of 2 mm diameter rods was achieved only for the Cu₆₄Zr₃₆ alloy and in the range of Cu ₅₃Zr₄₇ - Cu₅₀Zr₅₀, which are compositions near the energetically stable Cu₂Zr and CuZr intermetallic compounds. The difference between the calculated Gibbs free energy of the amorphous phase and the intermetallic compounds gives insight into the range of glass formation. In addition, the formation of the energetically stable phases can be kinetically by-passed owing to the crystallization of several competing phases.