Abstract
Bulk metallic glass matrix composites have emerged as a new potential material for structural engineering applications owing to their superior strength, hardness and high elastic strain limit. However, their behaviour is dubious. They manifest brittleness and inferior ductility which limit their applications. Various methods have been proposed to overcome this problem. Out of these, introduction of foreign particles (inoculants) during solidification has been proposed as the most effective. In this study, an effort has been made to delimit this drawback. A systematic tale has been presented which explains the evolution of microstructure in Zr47.5Cu45.5Al5Co2 and Zr65Cu15Al10Ni10 bulk metallic glass matrix composites with varying percentage of ZrC inoculant as analysed by secondary electron, back scatter electron imaging of “as cast” unetched samples and indentation microhardness testing. Secondary electron imaging of indents was also performed which shows development of shear transformation zones at edges of square of indents. Mostly, no cracking was observed, few cracks bearing Palmqvist morphology were witnessed in samples containing lower percentage of inoculant. A support is provided to hypothesis that inoculations remain successful in promoting phase formation and crystallinity and improving toughness.
Highlights
A systematic tale has been presented which explains the evolution of microstructure in Zr47.5Cu45.5Al5Co2 and Zr65Cu15Al10Ni10 bulk metallic glass matrix composites with varying percentage of ZrC inoculant as analysed by secondary electron, back scatter electron imaging of “as cast” unetched samples and indentation microhardness testing
A change in morphology is observed which can be attributed to inoculation treatment, cooling rate, rate of heat transfer, diffusion, point of observation and mode of imaging
Following conclusions could be drawn from present study; 1) ZrC is tested and found to be an effective inoculant to increase ductility, and toughness while maintaining high strength in Zr47.5Cu45.5Al5Co2 and Zr65Cu15Al10Ni10 bulk metallic glass matrix composites
Summary
With the help of energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) detector, it can generate map of crystal structure of individual elements which can help identify their nature and microstructural features (e.g. primary, secondary and tertiary dendrite arm spacing) [43] [52] It generates pole figures and grain size histograms which again can be used to determine mechanical properties of material. Emphasis is laid on explaining phase formation, evolution and plasticity of as cast inoculated Zr based bulk metallic glass matrix composites These studies are aimed at explaining and understanding phenomena of nucleation and growth in these alloys as a function of percentage of inoculant and cooling rate while later varies with change of point of observation along wedge [11]. This is first of its kind of study in this field which make use of carefully selected inoculants [53] [54] to promote crystallinity, phase formation and increase toughness
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