In situ spherical B2 CuZr phase reinforced ZrCuNiAlNb bulk metallic glass matrix composite

In situ microlevel spherical B2 CuZr phase reinforced Zr_49.5Cu_36.45Ni_4.05Al₉Nb₁ bulk metallic glass matrix composite was prepared successfully by the copper mold casting method. It was found that mechanical properties of Zr_50.5Cu_36.45Ni_4.05Al₉ alloy were improved largely due to the Nb addition. The room-temperature compressive fracture strength and plastic strain for Zr_49.5Cu_36.45Ni_4.05Al₉Nb₁ rod with a diameter of 5 mm reaches 2037 MPa and 8%, respectively. The improvements are attributed to the precipitation of the spherical B2 CuZr phase distributed uniformly in amorphous matrix, which effectively hampers the propagation of shear bands by deflecting them at the interface and by a multiplication mechanism.