Effects of Rare-Earth Metals on the Thermal Stability and Glass-Forming Ability of Al–Ni–Co–R Amorphous Alloys

Al 86 Ni 4 Co 4 R 6 and Al 86 Ni 6 Co 2 R 6 (R = Nd, Sm, Gd, Tb, or Yb) metallic ribbons were produced by planar flow spin casting. The glass-transition and phase-transformation temperatures of these alloys were determined in crystallization kinetic studies. Glass-forming criteria for these alloys were calculated from differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and differential thermal analysis (DTA) data. The rare-earth metals and combinations of transition metals useful to enhance the thermal stability and glass-forming ability of the alloys were found.