Calculation of the critical cooling rate for amorphous Pd77.5Si16.5Cu6

Abstract

The viscosity of the molten alloy Pd_77.5Si_16.5Cu₆ has been determined from 744 to 1000 °C using an oscillating cup viscometer. Using this data (together with other pertinent physical data available for this alloy) in existing crystallization theory indicates that it could be made amorphous at cooling rates as low as 5–10 Ks⁻¹. This analysis assumes strictly homogeneous nucleation. Containerless solidification will be one good testing ground for the results of this analysis.