Metallic glasses attract considerable interest due to their unique combination of superb properties and processability. Predicting their formation from known alloy parameters remains the major hindrance to the discovery of new systems. Here, we propose a descriptor based on the heuristics that structural and energetic ‘confusion’ obstructs crystalline growth, and demonstrate its validity by experiments on two well-known glass-forming alloy systems. We then develop a robust model for predicting glass formation ability based on the geometrical and energetic features of crystalline phases calculated ab initio in the AFLOW framework. Our findings indicate that the formation of metallic glass phases could be much more common than currently thought, with more than 17% of binary alloy systems potential glass formers. Our approach pinpoints favourable compositions and demonstrates that smart descriptors, based solely on alloy properties available in online repositories, offer the sought-after key for accelerated discovery of metallic glasses.

Ti-based bulk metallic glasses (BMGs) are very attractive for applications because of their excellent properties such as high specific strength and high corrosion resistance. In this paper, we briefly review the current status of the research and development of Ti-based bulk metallic glasses. Emphasis is laid on glass-forming ability, mechanical properties, corrosion resistance, and biocompatibility.

The corrosion behavior of TiZrHfBeCu(Ni) high-entropy bulk metallic glasses (HE-BMGs) has been investigated. The TiZrHfBeCu(Ni) HE-BMGs exhibited high corrosion resistance in 3.5 wt. % NaCl solution because of accumulation of ZrO₂ and TiO₂ in the passive film. Ni promoted increases of the ZrO₂, TiO₂, and HfO₂ contents and a decrease of the BeO content, which improved the HE-BMG corrosion behavior. Compared with Zr_41.2Ti_13.8Ni₁₀Cu_12.5Be_22.5 BMG, the high-entropy effect of HE-BMGs can significantly reduce the atomic mobility, which inhibits outward migration of Cu, reduces the kinetics of the dissolution reaction, and inhibits inward erosion by Cl⁻, thereby improving the corrosion performance.