The development of advanced materials has resulted in the evolution of new class of materials called bulk metallic glasses...This thesis deals with efforts to meet two main challenges currently faced in the development of novel bulk metallic lass systems in genera, and Mg - based bulk metallic glasses in particular. Firstly, the development of a multifunctional optimization model, for selecting new Mg - based bulk metallic glass-forming compositions lighter than Al based on past research spanning over a decade. Secondly, understanding the challenges an artifacts associated with the transmission electron microscopy characterization of Mg₅₄Cu₂₈Ag₇Y₁₁ bulk metallic glasses and developing an artifact-free specimen preparation protocol for their microstructural characterization --Abstract, page iii
