Phase-separated microstructures and shear-banding behavior in a designed Zr-based glass-forming alloy

X.H. Du, J.C. Huang*, H.M. Chen, H.S. Chou, Y.H. Lai, K.C. Hsieh, J.S.C. Jang, P.K. Liaw

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Journal Publications and ReviewsRGC 21 - Publication in refereed journalpeer-review

49 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

We have employed a thermodynamic-computation approach to identify the composition of the Zr-Cu-Ni-Al alloy system exhibiting a two-liquid miscibility phase equilibrium in the liquid-temperature region, which tends to favor the occurrence of the liquid-phase separation. Guided by these calculated diagrams, a Zr-based alloy with a 10 at.% Al is designed, and its bulk-metallic glass (BMG) is prepared successfully by the copper-mould suction casting. A heterogeneous microstructure characterized by the existence of phase-separated regions with several to decades micrometers in size forms in the BMG. Under uniaxial compressive loading, the designed Zr-based BMG demonstrates the continuous "work hardening" and remarkable macroscopic plastic strain at room temperature. The improvement of mechanical properties is attributed to the unique glassy structure correlated with both the heterogeneous microstructure and the micro-scaled phase separation, leading to the extensive shear-band formation, interaction, and multiplication.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)607-613
JournalIntermetallics
Volume17
Issue number8
Online published28 Feb 2009
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Aug 2009
Externally publishedYes

Research Keywords

  • B. Glasses, metallic
  • B. Mechanical properties at ambient temperature
  • E. Phase diagram, prediction
  • F. Electron microscopy, transmission

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