Searching for noble Ni–Nb–Zr thin film amorphous alloys for optical glass device molding die materials

► We searched for Ni–Nb–Zr amorphous alloys for use as glass molding die. ► We used a combinatorial method to efficiently search for candidate materials. ► The investigation revealed Ni 36Nb 39Zr 25 to be a suitable material for molding die. This paper presents a search for Ni–Nb–Zr thin film amorphous alloys for use as optical glass device molding die materials. To efficiently search for candidate materials, we used a combinatorial method to evaluate thermal stability. First, compositionally spread Ni–Nb–Zr libraries were fabricated by combinatorial arc plasma deposition (CAPD). To evaluate thermal stability, the Ni–Nb–Zr amorphous CAPD samples in the libraries were annealed in vacuum at 723 K, representing the molding temperature for glass devices, for various time periods. The phases of the annealed CAPD samples were identified using X-ray diffractometry (XRD). From XRD identification, candidate amorphous compositions with high thermal stabilities were screened. Sputter-deposited samples with the same candidate amorphous compositions were subsequently fabricated. Other desired properties for optical glass device molding die materials, including mechanical strength, linear expansion coefficient, oxidation resistance, machinability and anti-sticking properties to molten glass, were evaluated. The investigation revealed Ni 36Nb 39Zr 25 to be a suitable composition for a new glass lens molding die material. This material exhibited a high fracture stress, σ f, of 1.3 GPa, good heat resistance, good oxidation resistance, similar linear expansion coefficient as glass, good machinability, and excellent anti-sticking properties to molten glass.