Pronounced asymmetry in the crystallization behavior during constant heating and cooling of a bulk metallic glass-forming liquid

The crystallization behavior of the supercooled bulk metallic glass-forming Zr41Ti14Cu12Ni10Be23 liquid was studied with different heating and cooling rates. A rate of about 1 K/s is sufficient to suppress crystallization of the melt upon cooling from the equilibrium liquid. Upon heating, in contrast, a rate of about 200 K/s is necessary to avoid crystallization. The difference between the critical heating and cooling rate is discussed with respect to diffusion-limited growth taking classical nucleation into account. The calculated asymmetry of the critical heating and cooling rate can be explained by the fact that nuclei formed during cooling and heating are exposed to different growth rates. [S0163-1829(99)07441-X].