Thermal stability and mechanical properties of Gd-Co-Al bulk glass alloys

The glass forming ability of Gd-Co-Al ternary alloy systems with a composition ranging from 50% to 70% (molar fraction) for Gd and from 5% to 40% (molar fraction) for Al were investigated by copper mold casting and Gd₆₀Co₂₅Al₁₅ bulk glass alloy cylinders with the maximum diameter of 5 mm were obtained. The reduced glass transformation temperature (T_g/T_m) and the distance of supercooling region ΔT_x are 0.616 and 45 K, respectively for this Gd-Co-Al alloy. The compressive fracture strength (σ_f) and elastic modulus (E) of Gd-Co-Al glassy alloys are 1 170-1 380 MPa and 59-70 GPa, respectively. The Gd-Al-Co bulk glassy alloys with high glass forming ability and good mechanical properties are promising for the future development as a new type function materials.