Effect of dynamic fragmentation on the reaction characteristics of a Zr-based metallic glass

Abstract The reaction behavior and dynamic fragmentation of ZrCuNiAl bulk metallic glass (BMG) subjected to high velocity impact was investigated. ZrCuNiAl BMG specimens were launched into a quasi-sealed chamber filled with air or argon (Ar) under various velocities. The results demonstrated that the ZrCuNiAl metallic glass generated debris after impact, the debris reacted with oxygen in the air atmosphere. The combustion of Zr and Cu and the combination reaction of aluminum and nickel released heat, which caused significant over-pressure inside the chamber. This reaction was related to the fragmentation and the critical fragment size for reaction was determined by scanning electron microscope (SEM) images; In Ar atmosphere, the cumulative mass of debris of ZrCuNiAl BMG was following a near power function distribution. A model was established by combining the dynamic fracture distribution with chemical reaction of ZrCuNiAl BMG, which can predict the quasi-pressure inside the chamber under a certain range of velocities with acceptable accuracy.