Structure and properties of Zr–Ta–Cu–Ni–Al bulk metallic glasses and metallic glass matrix composites

Abstract

We have developed a series of alloys which, upon cooling from the melt, form two-phase microstructures consisting of crystalline Ta-rich solid solution particles embedded in a bulk metallic glass matrix. These alloys have the general composition (Zr 70Ni 10Cu 20) 90− x Ta x Al 10 where 0⩽ x⩽12 (all compositions are in atomic percent). These alloys have mechanical properties consistent with metallic glasses, including high yield strength (∼2 GPa) and large elastic elongation (∼2%). However, they also show much larger plastic strain to failure (up to 16%) in uniaxial compression than monolithic metallic glasses.