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Structural characterization and mechanical properties of nanocrystal-containing Cu–Ti-based bulk metallic glass-forming alloys

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Abstract

Cylindrical Cu42.5Ti41.5Ni7.5Zr2.5Hf5Si1 bulk metallic glass with a diameter of 2 mm was fabricated by copper-mold casting. X-ray diffraction and differential scanning calorimetry analysis of the material showed that the alloy has a homogenous amorphous structure and high glass-forming ability. However, detailed observation by transmission electron microscopy revealed that a kind of nanocrystal with size of about 20 nm is sparsely distributed in the glass matrix. Nanobeam electron diffraction experiments indicated that the nanocrystal has a face-centered cubic crystalline structure. Room-temperature compression tests revealed that the alloy has a high fracture strength of 2250 MPa and obvious plastic strain of about 5.3%. Nanoindentation tests revealed that the as-cast alloy exhibits obviously serrated flow over a wide range of loading rate from 0.5 to 10 mN/min.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Research Center for Materials, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450002, People’s Republic of China

    Y. F. Sun, F. S. Li, S. K. Guan & M. Q. Tang

  2. Department of Physics and Materials Science, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong, People’s Republic of China

    C. H. Shek

Authors
  1. Y. F. Sun
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  2. F. S. Li
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  3. S. K. Guan
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  4. M. Q. Tang
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  5. C. H. Shek
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Correspondence to Y. F. Sun.

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Sun, Y.F., Li, F.S., Guan, S.K. et al. Structural characterization and mechanical properties of nanocrystal-containing Cu–Ti-based bulk metallic glass-forming alloys. Journal of Materials Research 22, 352–357 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1557/jmr.2007.0037

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1557/jmr.2007.0037

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