Microstructure and mechanical properties of Zr46Cu46Al8 bulk metallic glass after annealing treatment

The crystallization and mechanical behavior of Zr ₄₆Cu ₄₆Al ₈ MG is investigated. The small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) and extended X-ray absorption fine structure spectra (EXAFS) is used to reveal the microstructure of Zr ₄₆Cu ₄₆Al ₈ bulk metallic glasses (BMG) after isothermal annealing. The incubation period of Zr ₄₆Cu ₄₆Al ₈ BMGs was less than 10 min under a variable heating rate. Moreover, a stable crystallization point was determined with nanocrystalline particles sized at 32 Å at the equilibrium using SANS. The Zr and Al atoms shifted outward during crystallization. Thus, the crystallization mechanisms of the Zr ₄₆Cu ₄₆Al ₈ BMGs are discussed based on the results of the SANS, X-ray diffraction, EXAFS, and differential scanning calorimetry analyses. The mechanical properties of the BMG and its composites were investigated using a nanoindentation test.