Metastable structures in magnetron sputtered W–Zr thin-film alloys

•Magnetron sputtered W–Zr thin-film alloys prepared in a very wide composition range.•W-rich films with a single-phase α-W(Zr) solid solution structure up to 24 at.% Zr.•W–Zr metallic glasses with an amorphous structure between 33 and 83 at.% Zr.•Zr-rich films with a predominantly dual-phase structure at ≥86 at.% Zr.•Relationships between the structure, microstructure and properties of the films.