Inhibitors of the crystallisation of amorphous materials

The problems arising in the choice of additives that will improve the temporal and thermal stability of the non-crystalline state of materials are discussed. Transition metal oxides and amorphous metal alloys form suitable subjects for studying the effect of crystal-chemical and energy factors on the stabilisation of amorphous substances. Data on the stabilisation of the amorphous matrix by introducing alloying additives which form solid solutions with isovalent and heterovalent substitution in the cationic sublattice, chemical compounds, and alloys, are reviewed. Criteria for selecting inhibitors that will stabilise the amorphous state of a material are formulated. The bibliography includes 63 references.