Discovering and Designing Bulk Metallic Glasses

Abstract

The discovery of metallic glasses and bulk metallic glasses (BMG) were important landmarks in materials research in recent times. Starting with an overview of the techniques for the synthesis of BMG, this paper will critically review the literature on glass forming criteria, glass forming compositions and structural and thermodynamic models describing glasses. With an explosion in the number of compositions forming BMG, their classification becomes important, which will help understand the relationship amongst the various BMG. Following the standard classification scheme based on compositions, Pettifor's approach using Mendeleev number and the importance of bond orbitals in the classification of BMG is highlighted.