Golden Mean analysis of bulk metallic glasses with critical diameter over half-inch for their mole fractions of compositions

Eighteen bulk metallic glasses (BMGs) with critical diameters over similar to 15 mm in Pd-, Zr-, Mg-, Y-, La-, Pt- and Ca-based multicomponent alloys were analyzed for their mole fractions of compositions with Golden Mean (phi similar to 1.618). The results proved that the 18 BMG compositions are describable with m phi(-n) or m phi(-n) where phi(-n) is phi(-(n+1)) plus phi(-(n-1)) and m and n are positive integers. The maximum difference in fractions between the analyzed and experimental compositions was 0.038. The irrational nature of (P makes the compositions of the 18 BMGs different from those of the stoichiometric intermetallic compounds and near eutectic compositions, leading to the high glass-forming ability. The possible prototypes of the 18 BMGs have the ability to form critically-percolated local atomic arrangements for both Metal-Metal and Metal-Metalloid types of BMGs. Golden Mean analysis provides a new alloy design for fractions of alloying elements owing to its irrationality. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.