{
  "abstract": "The glass-forming ability (GFA) of a metallic liquid can be quantified by the critical cooling rate $R_c$, below which it crystallizes upon cooling. $R_c$ is determined by the competition between $R$ and the crystallization rate $\\mathcal{K}_{\\rm X}$. Here, we calculate $R_c$ and $\\mathcal{K}_{\\rm X}$ in model pure metals and alloys with BCC/B2 and FCC equilibrium crystal structures. Using classical nucleation theory and independently calculated crystal growth rates, we evaluate $\\mathcal{K}_{\\rm X}=(IU^3)^{1/4}$ at $T=0.8T_m$, where $I$ and $U$ are the nucleation and growth rates and $T_m$ is the melting temperature. We find a strong positive correlation between $\\mathcal{K}_{\\rm X}$ and $R_c$ over eleven orders of magnitude. We decompose $\\mathcal{K}_{\\rm X}$ into a product of a kinetic contribution, involving atomic cluster attachment and diffusion, and a thermodynamic contribution. We show that the thermodynamic contribution to $\\mathcal{K}_{\\rm X}$ dominates the kinetic contribution over the range of cooling rates that we consider. The nucleation barrier $ΔG_c \\sim \\tildeγ^3/Δ\\tildeμ^2$, where $\\tildeγ$ is the reduced effective liquid--crystal interfacial free energy and $Δ\\tildeμ$ is the reduced bulk driving force, determines the magnitude of the thermodynamic contribution. The relative importance of $\\tildeγ$ and $Δ\\tildeμ$ depends on the material: a large interfacial free energy can suppress nucleation in some systems, whereas a weak bulk driving force can inhibit crystallization in others. Analyses of the structural and chemical order show that better glass formers have enhanced structural frustration, more icosahedral-like and less crystal-like local environments, and a larger chemical-order mismatch between the supercooled liquid and crystal phases.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [],
  "article_type": null,
  "arxiv": "2610.24101",
  "author_total": 4,
  "authors": [
    {
      "name": "Weiwei Jin"
    },
    {
      "name": "Jinpeng Fan"
    },
    {
      "name": "Mark D. Shattuck"
    },
    {
      "name": "Corey S. O'Hern"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/b1zxj1ekswb8z.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.48550/arxiv.2610.24101",
  "fulltext_url": null,
  "id": "b1zxj1ekswb8z",
  "issns": [],
  "landing_url": "https://arxiv.org/abs/2610.24101",
  "language": null,
  "licence": "CC-BY-NC-SA-4.0",
  "licence_label": "CC BY-NC-SA 4.0",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": "CC0-1.0",
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "arxiv",
      "cond-mat.dis-nn"
    ],
    [
      "arxiv",
      "cond-mat.soft"
    ],
    [
      "openalex",
      "2210|Metallic Glasses and Amorphous Alloys"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7223042729",
  "pdf_url": "https://arxiv.org/pdf/2610.24101",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-10-16",
  "publisher": null,
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/b1zxj1ekswb8z.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:30:52Z",
      "native_id": "2610.24101",
      "source": "arxiv",
      "url": "https://arxiv.org/abs/2610.24101"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "physics",
      "origin": "arxiv:cond-mat.dis-nn",
      "subfield": "condensed-matter"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Quantifying the Kinetic and Thermodynamic Origins of the Glass-Forming Ability in Metals",
  "title_text": "Quantifying the Kinetic and Thermodynamic Origins of the Glass-Forming Ability in Metals",
  "type": "preprint",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:33:41Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/b1zxj1ekswb8z",
  "venue": "arXiv",
  "versions": []
}