Effect of tungsten-particle size on the room temperature compressive deformation behaviour of Zr55Cu30Al10Ni5 amorphous alloy

W-particle-reinforced Zr-based amorphous composites (W _p/Zr ₅₅Cu ₃₀Al ₁₀Ni ₅) with a W-particle volume fraction of 50 % and W-particle sizes of 30, 75 and 250 μm were prepared through spark plasma sintering. The effects of different W-particle sizes on the quasi-static and dynamic compressive behaviours of the composites were investigated using a scanning electron microscopy/energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy instrument, a universal testing machine and the split-Hopkinson pressure bar. The results showed that the addition of W particles considerably enhanced the strength and ductility of the amorphous composites. Under quasi-static compression, the compressive strength of the W-particle-reinforced Zr-based amorphous composites increased as the W-particle size decreased; the fracture strain also increased accordingly. At a W-particle size of 30 μm, the composite achieved a maximum compressive strength of 1905 MPa and a maximum strain of 18.4 %. Under dynamic-compression conditions, the W-particle size was inversely proportional to the dynamic-compression strength of the material, with 3074 MPa obtained as the maximum strength. An analysis of the fracture morphology of the amorphous composites reveals that the fracture mode transitions from shear fracture to a mixed mode dominated by the W particles, a process involving interface debonding, cleavage fracture and ductile fracture.