Application of lever law in dual-cluster formulas model to interpret eutectic and bulk metallic glass

Abstract

It is well known that the structure of bulk metallic glass has a close relationship with that of its crystalline eutectic phase, but how this is manifested on the atomic scale is not yet clear. The present paper further develops and optimizes dual-cluster formulas model to describe the eutectic and bulk metallic glass, as C1[(principal cluster)1(glue atom)1 or 3] + C2[(principal cluster)2(glue atom)1 or 3]. C1, C2 are the proportions governed by the lever law, and the two principal clusters which have the highest atomic close-packing efficiency and large degree of isolation are derived from the eutectic-related phases. Cu-Zr binary system are studied using this model and the results match well with the experiments. According to dual-cluster formulas and valence electrons, the correlation between deep eutectic and bulk metallic glass may be disclosed, and a detailed step towards composition design of bulk metallic glass is established as well.