Thermo-mechanical study of rapidly solidified amorphous alloys Al85Ni5Co2RE8

► U is a good glass former element in Al-based metallic glasses and can replace the usual RE elements. ► Our thermo-mechanical measurements enables determining the true glass transition and fragility parameters. ► Good precursor ribbons for preparing bulk samples by hot consolidation. The thermal stability and viscous flow behavior of three quaternary amorphous alloys Al85Ni5Co2RE8 (RE=Ce, Gd, U) are studied. The viscosity experimental results are interpreted on the basis of the free volume model (FVM). The values of the model parameters obtained are used for estimation of the glass forming ability (GFA) in terms of Angell parameter, and the fracture strength of the alloys based on its correlation with the glass transition temperature. The results show that the amorphous alloys Al85Ni5Co2RE8 (RE=Ce, Gd, U) posses an excellent fracture strength (1.3–1.5GPa). The replacement of RE by U leads to best fracture strength and highest GFA.