Large-sized CuZr-based Bulk Metallic Glass Composite with Enhanced Mechanical Properties

A large-sized CuZr-based bulk metallic glass (BMG) composite with enhanced mechanical properties is prepared successfully. With the addition of Ta to CuZr-based alloys, the critical composite size changes and the microstructure diversifies. The composite with 0.5 at.% Ta addition has the largest critical size with the microstructure of single CuZr(B2) phase uniformly dispersing in amorphous matrix. This composite exhibits good mechanical properties, i.e., large compressive plasticity and work-hardening ability, which should be attributed to the uniformly distributed CuZr(B2) phase. The increased critical size of CuZr-based BMG composite can be explained by the fact that proper Ta addition can suppress the precipitation of crystalline phases other than B2 CuZr phase during solidification. This study may be helpful for the fabrication of large-sized BMG composites with excellent mechanical properties.