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Updated: May 31, 2026

Methods of Ex Situ and In Situ Investigations of Structural Transformations: The Case of Crystallization of Metallic Glasses
Published on: June 7, 2018
Atomic-scale structural evolution and stability of supercooled liquid of a Zr-based bulk metallic glass
1Institute of Materials Science, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200072, China.
Abstract:
In this Letter, direct experimental evidence is provided for understanding the thermal stability with respect to crystallization in the Zr(41.2)Ti(13.8)Cu(12.5)Ni(10)Be(22.5) glass-forming liquid. Through high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, the atomic-structure evolution in the glass-forming liquid during the isothermal annealing process is clearly revealed. In contrast with the existing theoretical models, our results reveal that, prior to nanocrystallization, there exists a metastable state prone to forming icosahedralike atomic clusters, which impede the subsequent crystallization and hence stabilize the supercooled liquid. The outcome of the current research underpins the topological origin for the excellent thermal stability displayed by the Zr-based bulk metallic glass.
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