Thermodynamically-guided machine learning modelling for predicting the glass-forming ability of bulk metallic glasses

Glass-forming ability (GFA) of bulk metallic glasses (BMGs) is a determinant parameter which has been significantly studied. GFA improvements could be achieved through trial-and-error experiments, as a tedious work, or by using developed predicting tools. Machine-Learning (ML) has been used as a promising method to predict the properties of BMGs by removing the barriers in the way of its alloy design. This article aims to develop a ML-based method for predicting the maximum critical diameter (D(max)) of BMGs as a factor of their glass-forming ability. The main result is that the random forest method can be used as a sustainable model (R(2) = 92%) for predicting glass-forming ability. Also, adding characteristic temperatures to the model will increase the accuracy and efficiency of the developed model. Comparing the measured and predicted values of D(max) for a set of newly developed BMGs indicated that the model is reliable and can be truly used for predicting the GFA of BMGs.