Preparation of Zr-base bulk amorphous alloy by tilt casting method using ladle hearth type arc furnace

Zr₅₀Cu₄₀Al₁₀ ternary bulk amorphous alloy sheet was prepared by a tilt casting method using ladle hearth type arc furnace. The function of electromagnetic stirring was researched during this process. It was shown that the chilling ability to alloy melt in this method can be compared with that in suction copper mold casting, although the alloy melt filled the mould cavity freely only under the action of gravitation in this method. Electromagnetic stirring is beneficial to the decrease of 'crystal nucleus pollution', caused by the Ohmic contact between melt and water-jacket copper hearth, so that a larger supercooled liquid region ΔT_x and better thermal stability can be obtained for the Zr-base bulk amorphous alloy.