CONFIGURATIONAL ENTROPY AND THE STABILITY LIMIT OF A GLASS

We propose a simple method of estimating the configurational entropy o f a glass from thermodynamic considerations and thermal expansion meas urements and apply it to a bulk metallic glass of composition Zr65Ni10 CU17.5Al7.5 which has important technological applications. We also ca lculate the Gibb's free energy difference between the glassy and the c rystalline states which measures the thermal stability of the glassy p hase. Our method also predicts a new isentropic instability temperatur e beyond which a glass cannot be superheated. (C) 1997 Elsevier Scienc e Ltd.