Short-range order of undercooled melts of PdZr₂ intermetallic compound studied by X-ray and neutron scattering experiments

The short-range order in undercooled melts of the intermetallic Zr ₂Pd glass-forming alloy is investigated by combining electrostatic levitation (ESL) with high-energy X-ray diffraction and neutron diffraction. Experimentally determined structure factors are measured and analyzed with respect to various structures of short-range order. The comparative X-ray and neutron scattering experiments allow for investigations of topological and chemical short-range order. Based on these studies, no preference of a specific short-range order is found for the liquid Zr₂Pd glass-forming alloy, even in the metastable state of the deeply undercooled melt. This is in agreement with an earlier report from X-ray diffraction and molecular-dynamics studies of a Zr_75.5Pd_24.5 liquid, which showed a broad distribution of cluster types. The results for the Zr₂Pd liquid are discussed with respect to the glass-forming ability of this melt.