Atomic mechanisms of glass formation in metallic alloys, tendency to glass formation, and structural models

The factors affecting the tendency of metallic alloys to glass formation have been discussed. The most commonly accepted structural models of amorphous alloys are considered. The Ni₈₀B₂₀ and Ni₈₀Zr₂₀ alloys are studied by the molecular dynamics method. It is demonstrated that the amorphization of these alloys occurs through the same mechanism of formation of low-dimensional nanometric dendrite-like compounds that nucleate in the liquid phase, persist upon glass transition, disturb the order in a metal matrix, and, thus, prevent the transition to the crystalline state.