Influence of casting temperature on the castability and glass-forming ability of Zr-based bulk metallic glasses

Both castability and glass-forming ability (GFA) are crucial for die-casting of Zr-based bulk metallic glass (BMG) components. In this work, a simple method is used to quantify the castability required for casting two SIM card slots with different designs, and to quantify the castability at different casting temperatures. It is found that the Zr ₅₅Cu ₃₀Ni ₅Al ₁₀ (Zr55) BMG has a wider optimal casting temperature region (in which glassy rods with a diameter of at least 5 mm can be formed) than that of Zr _52.5Cu ₂₅Ni _9.5Al ₇Ti ₆ (Zr52.5), which is consistent of the better GFA of the Zr55. In the optimal casting temperature region, however, the castability of Zr52.5 is significantly better than that of Zr55, because Zr52.5 has a lower melting point, a poorer wettability to the copper mold, and a higher optimal casting temperature. These results are helpful to guide the production of Zr-based BMG components.