Microalloying and microstructures of Cu-based bulk metallic glasses & composites and relevant mechanical properties

Abstract To improve the poor plasticity of bulk metallic glasses, this work reports the microalloying of a bulk metallic glass to tailor the microstructures and to enhance its plasticity. The selection of alloying elements, Hf and Mo which are soluble in Ti, is determined by binary phase diagrams. The X-ray diffraction and microstructural analysis demonstrate that the microstructural evolution of as-cast alloys is accompanied with the addition of alloying elements. The glass-forming ability of as-cast alloys increases with the addition of Hf and Mo elements, respectively. The yield strength and plasticity of both as-cast alloys are affected with the quantity of alloying elements. In addition, the intrinsic nature of alloying elements and the interaction among the alloying elements and base compositions affect the hardness of as-cast alloys. Summarily, addition of soluble alloying elements in a component of base composition can enhance the plasticity of bulk metallic glasses.