Comparing the dynamic and thermodynamic behaviors of Al86Ni9-La5/(La0.5Ce0.5)5 amorphous alloys

The dynamic viscosities and thermodynamic dilatometric behaviors of Al86Ni9La5 and Al86Ni9(La0.5Ce0.5)5 amorphous alloys were investigated using viscometer, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and conventional dilatometer. Comparing with Al86Ni9La5 alloy, Al86Ni9(La0.5Ce0.5)5 alloy exhibits a larger viscosity and a larger average thermal expansion coefficient in the linear expansion zone (αexp). The viscosity and thermal expansion data suggest that the partial substitution La by Ce decreases the quantity of free volume in Al-Ni-La system by improving the continuous degree of atomic size, which leads to the improvement of glass forming ability.