Enhanced plasticity of Zr-based bulk metallic glass composite by in situ formed β-Zr dendritics

Abstract

A Zr_56.2Ti_13.8Nb_5.0Cu_6.9Ni_5.6Be_12.5 bulk metallic glass composite with enhanced plasticity by in situ formed bcc β-Zr solid solution was prepared by water quenching. The ductile β phase with a volume fraction of about 30% possesses a developed dendritic morphology. The composite exhibits a pure plastic strain of 10.2% combined with a large elastic strain limit of 2% and a high ultimate strength of 1778 MPa upon room-temperature compression. Microscopic observation shows numbers of wave-like shear bands distributed on the surface of the compressive samples.