Ni-based bulk metallic glass formation in the Ni–Nb–Sn and Ni–Nb–Sn–X (X=B,Fe,Cu) alloy systems

Abstract

Refractory Ni-based bulk metallic glasses are formed in the three-component Ni–Nb–Sn system near a ternary eutectic composition located within the three-phase field bounded by the three intermetallics Ni3Nb, Ni6Nb7 (μ-phase), and Ni2NbSn (BiF3-type). Bulk amorphous alloys of composition Ni60Nb40−xSnx with 3<x<9 were prepared by injection-casting the molten alloys into copper models. X-ray diffraction and differential scanning calorimetry studies show the cast strips to be fully amorphous up to thicknesses from 0.5 to 3 mm as x is varied. Maximum glass-forming ability (GFA) observed when x is between 6 and 7. These refractory bulk amorphous alloys exhibit high glass transition temperatures 881<Tg<895 K, a large, stable, undercooled liquid region with ΔT=Tx−Tg, at ∼40–60 K, very high Vickers hardness (VH∼1000–1280 Kg/mm2), and estimated yield strengths in the range of 3 to 3.8 GPa. The effects of small quaternary additions of B and Fe on the GFA of the ternary alloys are also reported.