Surface tension and viscosity of liquid Pd(43)Cu(27)Ni(10)P(20) measured in a levitation device under microgravity

Here we present measurements of surface tension and viscosity of the bulk glass-forming alloy Pd(43)Cu(27)Ni(10)P(20) performed during containerless processing under reduced gravity. We applied the oscillating drop method in an electromagnetic levitation facility on board of parabolic flights. The measured viscosity exhibits a pronounced temperature dependence following an Arrhenius law over a temperature range from 1100 K to 1450 K. Together with literature values of viscosity at lower temperatures, the viscosity of Pd(43)Cu(27)Ni(10)P(20) can be well described by a free volume model. X-ray diffraction analysis on the material retrieved after the parabolic flights confirm the glassy nature after vitrification of the bulk samples and thus the absence of crystallization during processing over a wide temperature range.