Minor addition induced enhancement of strength of Mg-based bulk metallic glass

We report that the fracture strength of Mg-based bulk metallic glasses (BMGs) can be dramatically enhanced up to 1.10 GPa by minor Gd addition. The Poisson’s ratio v of the BMG also decreases to 0.261 close to that of brittle oxide glasses when 1 at.% Gd was added. Such significant enhancement in strength which approaches the theoretical strength value and dramatically decrease in the Poisson’s ratio are attributed to the structural change of the BMGs induced by the Gd minor addition.