Metallic Glasses Bulk Up

Abstract

Vitreloy, a metallic–glass alloy of zirconium and beryllium from Amorphous Technologies International (ATI) in Laguna Niquel, CA, is extensively being used in golf clubs. Liquidmetal golf-club heads are fabricated from an amorphous metal alloy that has excellent rebound and vibration-absorbing properties. Research indicates that the prized physical properties of metallic glasses arise in large part from their lack of grain boundaries, which can serve as points of weakness. Liquidmetal putters have a ‘soft’ feel when striking the ball, which the makers claim provides players with improved touch on putting greens. The elevated strength-to-weight ratios exhibited by Liquidmetal alloys make the metallic glasses promising for a range of high-performance applications. Sports enthusiasts may also soon find bulk metallic glasses like Vitreloy in other high-end sporting goods such as tennis rackets, baseball bats, bicycle frames, hunting bows, and even edged tools such as axes. ATl management stated that high-performance sporting goods are only a first step in the market; the new family of materials could also be promising for other, more serious applications.