Looking for footprint of bulk metallic glass in electronic and phonon heat capacities of Cu55Hf45−xTix alloys

• Published in: Applied physics letters Vol. 104; no. 17
• Main Authors: Starešinić, D, Dominko, D, Ristić, R, Babić, E, Figueroa, I A, Davies, H A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Melville American Institute of Physics 28-04-2014
• Subjects: Amorphous materials; Applied physics; Dependence; Electron density; Metallic glasses; Specific heat; Titanium
• ISSN: 0003-6951; 1077-3118
• DOI: 10.1063/1.4875043

We report on the heat capacity investigation of Cu55Hf45−xTix metallic glasses. The most appropriate procedure to estimate low temperature electronic and phonon contributions has been determined. Both contributions exhibit monotonous Ti concentration dependence, demonstrating that there is no relation of either the electron density of states at the Fermi level or the Debye temperature to the increased glass forming ability in the Ti concentration range x = 15–30. The thermodynamic parameters (e.g., reduced glass temperature) remain better indicators in assessing the best composition for bulk metallic glass formation.