A glance on the glass-transition phenomenon from the viewpoint of devitrification

The formation of a supercooled liquid region and devitrification behaviour of metallic glasses on heating are discussed in relation with the glass-transition phenomenon observed using differential scanning and isothermal calorimetries as well as X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). One of the most clear sequences of the glassy ↔ supercooled liquid phase transition is the change of the devitrification behaviour and the kinetics of the devitrification reaction in Al-based and some other alloys after the transition from the glassy to the supercooled liquid state. The significant variation in the devitrification behaviour and thermodynamic parameters indicate the difference between the glassy and the supercooled liquid phases.