A thermal processing map of a ZrCuNiAlEr bulk metallic glass in the supercooled liquid region

Thermal compression tests of (Zr0.6336Cu0.1452Ni0.1012Al0.12)97.4Er2.6 bulk metallic glass (BMG) were performed at temperature of 410, 420, 430 and 440 °C and strain rates of 5 × 10−4, 10−3, 5 × 10−3 and 10−2 s−1, and a thermal processing map was constructed in the supercooled liquid region. The results indicate that in low strain rate regions (5 × 10−4–10−3 s−1), the processing efficiency range is 70–85% and stress range is 70–120 MPa with temperatures of 410 and 420 °C, and the samples can be thermally processed under relatively small stress and show better fluidity, so temperatures of 410 and 420 °C and the strain rate range of 5 × 10−4–10−3 s−1 are optional thermal processing parameters. When the temperature is 430 °C and the strain rate range is 5 × 10−4–10−2 s−1, the processing efficiency range is 75–85%, and the stress range is 16–106 MPa. The (Zr0.6336Cu0.1452Ni0.1012Al0.12)97.4Er2.6 BMG can be thermoformed under smaller flow stress and shows excellent fluidity; therefore, 430 °C and 5 × 10−4–10−2 s−1 also are optional thermal processing parameters.