Liquid and Glassy State Polyamorphism in the System Y2O3-Al2O3

Abstract

ABSTRACTDuring a recent study of supercooled liquids in the system Y2O3-Al2O3, a first-order phase transition between two liquid phases with the same composition, but different structure and density, was observed to occur. The transition occurred close to the glass transformation of the two liquids, so that both phases were quenched to metastably coexisting glasses. We report further studies on the liquids and glasses in this system, prepared by rapid (roller) quenching and by containerless levitation techniques.