Corrosion and related mechanical properties of bulk metallic glasses

The review of corrosion performance of a number of alloy systems documents several metallic glasses with corrosion resistance superior to that of crystalline metals. In other cases, the metallic glasses do not have superior corrosion resistance. The nature of corrosion resistance of the metallic glasses is often directly related to the development of a passive film (protective layer) on the reactive alloy substrate, increased durability of the passive film, or enhanced resistance to localized corrosion where the passive film is broken or damaged. Potential mechanical/environmental degradation processes include stress-corrosion cracking, corrosion fatigue, various forms of hydrogen damage, wear, and abrasion. The availability of bulk metallic glasses in significant three-dimensional sizes will stimulate important work in these areas that will enhance the fundamental understanding of the corrosion behavior and mechanical interactions and develop design guidelines and materials properties database for designers and engineers.