Abstract:The effect of Sn addition on the thermal stability of (Zr_52.5Ti₅Al₁₀Ni_14.6Cu_17.9)_(100-x)Sn_x(x=1, 2, 3, 4 and 5) bulk metallic glass was studied by means of differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The experimental results show that all of the characteristic temperatures including glass transition temperature T_g, onset crystallization temperature T_x, peak temperatures T_p1and T_p2, and the supercooled liquid region ΔT_x, increase to some extent. T_x can be augmented remarkably when the Sn addition is 3%, which may be attributed to the suppression of the first stage of the crystallization, and therefore, the supercooled liquid region is largely widened. Consequently, the thermal stability of the Zr_52.5Ti₅Al₁₀Ni_14.6Cu_17.9 bulk metallic glass can be increased by the introduction of Sn. Enhancing the complexity of the components of some bulk metallic glasses is a useful method to improve their thermal stabilities.

Key words: bulk metallic glass; DSC; thermal stability; supercooled liquid region