Mg-Y-Cu Bulk Nanocrystalline Matrix Composites Containing WC Particles

The preparation of Mg₄₉Y₁₅Cu₃₆ metallic glass composite powders was accomplished by mechanical alloying of pure Mg, Y, Cu, and WC powder mixture after 10 h milling. In the ball-milled composites, initial WC particles were homogeneously dispersed in the Mg-based alloy glassy matrix. The metallic glass composites powders were found to exhibit a large supercooled liquid region before crystallization. Bulk metallic glass composites were formed by vacuum hot pressing the as-milled WC/ Mg₄₉Y ₁₅Cu₃₆ metallic glass composite powders at 473 K in the pressure range of 0.72-1.20 GPa. BMG composite with submicron WC particles homogeneously embedded in a highly dense nanocrystalline/amorphous matrix was successfully prepared under pressure of 1.20 GPa. It was found that the applied pressure during consolidation could enhance the thermal stability and promotes nanocrystallization of WC/Mg₄₉Y₁₅Cu₃₆BMG composites.