Static and Dynamic Thermal Properties of a Pd40Ni40Si20 Glassy Alloy

Abstract

The thermal properties of a Pd40Ni40Si20 glassy alloy with the largest supercooled liquid region among the glassy alloys containing Si as a metalloid element are studied using static and dynamic measurement methods. The relatively wide supercooled liquid region of 45 K, defined by the temperature interval between the glass transition temperature (Tg) and the onset temperature of crystallization (Tx), and the viscosity of the supercooled liquid, varying from 2.7 × 1010 to 3.2 × 1011 Pa·s, make this glass suitable for the introduction of controlled pores by a viscous flow in the temperature range Tg~Tx. The obtained activation energy for crystallization, 272 ± 19 kJ/mol, is slightly higher than that of Tg (228 ± 11 kJ/mol), indicating the dominant contribution of the atomic transport barrier in the overall energy barrier for crystallization.