On 23 October 2024, Nicolai Grund successfully defended his dissertation on "Structure and dynamics of metallic glass-forming liquids upon third component additions" at the Ruhr University Bochum. The examination committee consisted of Prof Dr Andreas Meyer (first examiner), Prof Dr Anna Böhmer (second examiner), Prof Dr Michael Scherer, Prof Dr Achim von Keudell and the chairman Hendrik Hildebrandt.
The work was carried out at the Institute of Materials Physics in Space. In the dissertation, the structure and dynamics of massive metallic glasses (BMGs), especially in Zr-Cu-Al and Ni-Nb-S/P, were investigated with regard to glass formation capability. The work combined various experimental methods, including electrostatic levitation (ESL), the oscillating drop method, X-ray and neutron diffraction and quasielastic neutron scattering.
In his work, Mr Grund was able to establish that the mechanisms leading to improved glass formation depend strongly on the system under investigation. While in Zr-Cu-Al the addition of aluminium leads to a slowdown in the dynamics, in Ni-Nb-S/P it was found that the phase selection is significantly influenced by the addition of sulphur or phosphorus. These findings contribute to a better understanding of the complex processes involved in glass formation. Part of the research has already been published in a scientific article: https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0205058
Promotion Nicolai Grund
Nicolai Grund during his defend at Ruhr-Universität Bochum.
