J. Mater. Sci. Technol. ›› 2020, Vol. 45: 157-161.DOI: 10.1016/j.jmst.2019.10.035

• Research Article • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Ultrasonic excitation induced nanocrystallization and toughening of Zr46.75Cu46.75Al6.5 bulk metallic glass

W. Zhaia, L.H. Niea, X.D. Huib, Y. Xiaoa, T. Wangb, B. Weia,*()   

  1. a School of Physical Science and Technology, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi’an 710072, China
    b State Key Laboratory for Advanced Metals and Materials, University of Science & Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China
  • Received:2019-08-12 Revised:2019-09-10 Accepted:2019-10-12 Published:2020-05-15 Online:2020-05-27
  • Contact: B. Wei

Abstract:

Intensive power ultrasound is introduced to Zr46.75Cu46.75Al6.5 bulk metallic glass (BMG) as an easy-procurable, non-destructive physical method to modulate its atomic rearrangement and shear deformation behavior. The microstructure after ultrasonic excitation with amplitude about 15 μm in 20 kHz for 2 h is characterized by large amount of Cu10Zr7 nanocrystals with size of 20-50 nm embedded in the glass matrix. This leads to a sharp increase in the critical stress for the first pop-in event of shear banding, and thus simultaneously improves both compressive plasticity and yield strength. Our findings provide a novel approach for overcoming the strength-ductility trade-off dilemma.

Key words: Bulk metallic glass, Nanocrystallization, Plasticity, Toughness, Ultrasound