Abstract: A new microstructure model is developed for amorphous alloys,so called Cluster medel, in which the amorphous phase is thought of composing of randomly distributed ordered clusters of different sizes.Thermodynamic calculation on this model deduces a parameter describing the glass forming ability of metallic alloys:α_c=(1-2.08/Φ_m)T_g/T_m,where T_g is gass transition temperature,T_m is the melting temperature,and Φ_m is entralpy change of melting.It is believed that easy glass forming alloy systems have larger values of a_c.This new criterion of GFA not only provides the theoretical background for several GFA criteria in the literature cited,but also can predict the GFA of many alloy systems more reasonably and accurately.

Key words: amorphous metal, structure model, glass forming ability(GFA), ordered cluster