Thermodynamics of La based La–Al–Cu–Ni–Co alloys studied by temperature modulated DSC

The onset and offset melting temperatures Tm and Tl, glass transition temperature Tg and heat of fusion ΔHm of six La based La–Al–Cu–Ni–(Co) alloys were measured by DTA or DSC at a heating rate of 20 K/s. The absolute values of specific heat capacity for the undercooled liquid and the corresponding crystalline of these six alloys were obtained by means of temperature-modulated DSC (TMDSC). Entropy, enthalpy and Gibbs free energy differences between the undercooled liquid and crystalline of these alloys as a function of temperature have been calculated. Their glass forming ability was discussed from a thermodynamic point of view.