Investigation of short-range structural order in Zr_69.5Cu₁₂Ni₁₁Al_7.5 and Zr_41.5Ti_41.5Ni₁₇ glasses, using X-ray absorption spectroscopy and ab initio molecular dynamics simulations

Short-range order has been investigated in Zr_69.5Cu₁₂Ni₁₁Al_7.5 and Zr_41.5Ti_41.5Ni₁₇ metallic glasses using X-ray absorption spectroscopy and ab initio molecular dynamics simulations. While both of these alloys are good glass formers, there is a difference in their glass-forming abilities (Zr_41.5Ti_41.5Ni₁₇ > Zr_69.5Cu₁₂Ni₁₁Al_7.5). This difference is explained by inciting the relative importance of strong chemical order, icosahedral content, cluster symmetry and configuration diversity.