Recent advances and future research directions in bulk metallic glasses

Abstract

These opening remarks will briefly mention recent advances in characterizing the atomic and electronic structure, glass forming ability, thermal stability, and mechanical and magnetic properties of bulk metallic glasses. Future research directions may include the development of first principles models to predict ranges of possible alloy compositions, under-cooling limits, and glass transition temperatures, etc.; the identification of thermodynamic, geometric, electronic, chemical and kinetic parameters for the models; and the correlation of glass nanostructure and chemistry with properties and behavior. The ultimate objective is to predict and control the high mechanical strength and fracture toughness, low sliding-friction coefficient and high wear resistance, corrosion resistance, and low magnetic energy loss corresponding to particular bulk metallic glass compositions and process parameters.