Thermal stability of Pd-based metallic glasses examined by electrical resistance measurement

Thermal stability of some Pd-based metallic glasses was investigated mainly by the electrical resistance measurement. Differential thermal analysis was also performed to compare the thermogram with the electrical resistance curve. The crystallization and glass transition temperatures were in good agreement between both measurements. The influence of gas atmosphere on the electrical resistance curve was examined under a purified Ar and a vacuum state. The amount of oxygen impurity was larger for Ar than vacuum. From the electrical resistance behavior in the supercooled liquid region it was concluded that the thermal stability of metallic glasses which contain Pd and/or B atoms was obviously affected by the oxygen impurity in the Ar atmosphere. Samples which were annealed to a temperature in the supercooled liquid region under an Ar atmosphere showed the precipitation of nano-crystallites.