Ti-based bulk metallic glass matrix composites with in situ precipitated β-Ti phase fabricated by spark plasma sintering

Ti-based bulk metallic glass (BMG) matrix composites with in situ precipitated beta-Ti phase were fabricated by spark plasma sintering of amorphous (Ti66Nb13Cu8Ni6.8Al6.2)(1)B0.79C0.65 alloy powder with a wide Delta T-x of 102 K under a sintering pressure of 500 MPa. The wider Delta T-x and the smaller particle size for the as-synthesized (Ti66Nb13Cu8Ni6.8Al6.2)(1)B0.79C0.65 amorphous powder is present compared to B- and C-free amorphous powder. At a sintering temperature of 743 K, spherical nanocrystalline beta-Ti with a grain size of 5 nm was homogeneously precipitated in amorphous matrix. Meanwhile, the BMG matrix composite fabricated has a relative density of 98.1% and an amorphous phase volume fraction of 55.2%. However, the BMG matrix composites fabricated exhibit a brittle manner. The results obtained provide an alternative method for fabricating large-sized BMG matrix composites and parts by powder metallurgy. Crown Copyright (C) 2012 Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.