Arsenic-free Ge-Se-Sn and Ge-Sb-Se-Sn alloys were prepared by quenching the melt into water. Their glass formation, glass transition temperatures, microhardness, density and infrared (IR) transmittance were examined. Metallographical examination and X-ray diffraction were used for the identification of glass formation. The glass formation regions are located near the Se-rich corner. For the Ge-Se-Sn and Ge-Sb-Se-Sn alloys examined in this study, the glass transition temperatures vary from 86-54 degreesC to 13-328 degreesC, and the values of Vicker's to 109-191 kg mm(-2), respectively. The IR transmittance is very low for crystalline specimens and hardness vary from 55-165 kg mm(-2) for most of the Ge-Se-Sn and Ge-Sb-Se-Sn glasses, it is around 55-65%. Absorption peaks of H-O and Ge-O are found in most of the IR results, which indicates humidity and oxygen absorption during sample preparation. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.