Irradiation induced amorphization in metallic multilayers and calculation of glass-forming ability from atomistic potential in the binary metal systems

This review attempts to present first a brief summary of the up-to-date exp erimental studies on amorphization transition, which results in the formati on of amorphous alloys or metallic glasses, by ion irradiation of multiple metal layers in the binary metal systems. Secondly, based on the framework of Miedema's theory, thermodynamic modeling of metallic glass formation is described with consideration of the significant role of interfacial free en ergy of the multilayers in amorphization. Thirdly, results of molecular dyn amics simulations for some representative systems are presented to show the calculation of the intrinsic glass-forming ability from interatomic potent ial of the binary metal systems. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.