Two-layered Zr-base amorphous alloy-metal surface composites fabricated by high-energy electron-beam irradiation

An amorphous alloy/copper surface composite was fabricated by depositing Zr-base amorphous powders on a copper substrate and irradiating them with a high-energy electron beam. In order to thicken a surface composite layer and to obtain a homogeneous microstructure, a two-layered surface composite was fabricated by repeating the electron-beam irradiation process. Microstructure and hardness were analyzed in comparison with those of the one-layered surface composite fabricated by the one-time electron-beam irradiation. Results confirm that the two-time electron-beam irradiation is a good method to fabricate amorphous alloy/copper surface composites in which advantages of amorphous alloys are fully taken while eliminating their shortcomings and maintaining substrate properties.