Calculations of potential functions and thermophysical behaviors for La₆₂ Al₁₄ Ni₁₂ Cu₁₂ and Cu ₄₆ Zr₄₄ Al₇ Y₃ bulk metallic glasses

Bulk metallic glasses La₆₂ Al₁₄ Ni₁₂ Cu₁₂ and Cu₄₆ Zr₄₄ Al₇ Y₃ were prepared by copper mold suction casting. The thermal-physical behaviors of bulk metallic glasses were investigated by means of x-ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry, ultrasonic techniques, and dilatometry. By calculating the Mie potential function from experimental data, the values of potential function powers (m and n) and related physical parameters such as the mean binding energy, etc., are obtained. Thus, unlike what some people have done by assuming values of m-n (7-14), the values of average nearest-neighbor separation r₀ and effective depth of pair potential φ0 can be obtained from calculated values of m and n from Mie potential functions and they agree very well with the results in the literature. The calculations can be well consistent with the thermophysical behaviors by comparing the two amorphous alloys. In addition, it was enhanced that the effective depth of pair potential correlated with the glass-forming ability of bulk metallic glass.