Effects of elemental additions and superheat on melt surface tension and metallic glass embrittlement

Additions of antimony, selenium, tellurium and some other alloying elements to iron-nickel base alloys have been investigated with regard to effects on melt surface tension and resultant metallic glass formation and characteristics. Surface tension of the molten alloys has been measured as a function of composition and melt temperature using a variation of the maximum bubble pressure method. The density of molten Fe₄₀Ni₄₀B₂₀ alloy has been measured as a function of temperature. Attempts to chill block melt-spin and alloys of the present investigation into metallic glass ribbons were largely successful. A few compositions were partially crystalline in the as-cast state and even fewer were not castable at all. The amorphous structure of ribbons made was assessed by X-ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry, and embrittlement temperatures for one hour anneals. A correlation has been established between changes in melt surface tension and metallic glass embrittlement temperature with the addition of surface active elements.