Thermal expansion of amorphous Zr Al Cu Ni in the vicinity of the glass transition

Abstract:

The thermal expansion of non-crystalline Zr₆₅Al_7.5Cu_17.5 Ni₁₀ has been studied in the range of the glass transition and in the undercooled liquid using a dilatometric device. The measuring technique used permits reliable experimental results up to 40 K above the glass transition temperature. The linear thermal expansion coefficient obtained is almost constant in the glassy state with a value of . It discontinuously increases at the glass transition temperature yielding a value of in the undercooled liquid. The results are compared with specific heat measurements of the amorphous material in this temperature range and are interpreted in the framework of a cluster model.