In this work, a small amount of Nb has been added in a Zr52Cu42.5Al5.5 bulk metallic glass, and a Zr52Cu42Al5.5Nb0.5 bulk metallic glass composite with dual-amorphous and nanocrystal structures has been developed for the first time. This in situ formed bulk metallic glass composite has a larger room compressive plasticity of above 13% than that of the Zr52Cu42.5Al5.5 bulk metallic glass. The excellent plasticity of the bulk metallic glass composite is attributed to the phase-separated matrix with micro-nanocrystal and the nanocrystallization during the deforming process. This work may give a new sight into design bulk metallic glass composites and the underlying mechanism for deformation.
Designing in situ and ex situ bulk metallic glass composites via spark plasma sintering in the super cooled liquid state