Determining deformation behaviors in a CuZr-based bulk metallic glass composite

Abstract In this work, deformation behaviors of a CuZrAlNb bulk metallic glass composite (BMGC) with different volume fractions of the crystalline phase were characterized using in-situ tensile tests in an optical microscope. For the studied composite, it was found that the volume fraction of the crystalline phase plays a significant role in shear band types. Shear bands which are not restrained by the crystalline phase, disappeared with increasing the crystallization volume fraction. There exists a critical volume fraction (~ 29.63 %) of the crystalline phase determining deformation behaviors of the studied composite. Beyond the critical value, this composite exhibits the homogeneous plastic deformation. Otherwise, the deformation of the BMGC is affected by shear bands which are not restrained by the crystalline phase, resulting in a decrease in the plasticity of the BMGC. Besides, the crystalline phase with a large-size bears more strain than that with a small-size in BMGCs, thereby improving their mechanical properties.