Synthesis and Properties of Bulk Metallic Glass Composites

The aim of this study is to show that new types of bulk metallic glass composites (BMGCs) can be produced via severe plastic deformation (SPD). The initial materials are mixtures of a Zr-metallic glass (MG) and crystalline Cu powders that were mixed and then consolidated, cold welded together and refined by high pressure torsion (HPT). Four different compositions (Zr-MG Xwt% Cu, X = 20, 40, 60, 80) were produced as well as single phase Zr-MG samples as reference. To investigate the influence of the degree of deformation and the ratio of the two phases on the evolution of the microstructure and mechanical properties, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), hardness and microcompression measurements were used.