Preparation and mechanical properties of a new Zr-Al-Ti-Cu-Ni-Be bulk metallic glass

In this paper, a new Zr37Al10Ti12.5Cu11.25Ni9Be20.25 bulk metallic glass is reported. The present alloy was prepared by water quenching in a silica tube of phi 10 x 85 mm. The amorphicity of the quenched bulk samples was examined using X-ray diffraction analysis and optical microscopy. The thermal stability was evaluated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) at a heating rate of 10 K/min. The characteristic data of the bulk metallic glass are presented, including glass transition temperature (T-g) and crystallization temperature (T-x). Results show that the present alloy exhibits large glass forming ability. For comparison with the well-known Zr-Ti-Cu-Ni-Be metallic glass, it was found that aluminum has a little effect on the vitrification of the present alloy but influences physical properties. Specifically, Al enhances the Young's modulus by 21.4% and Vickers hardness by 20% and reduces density by 7.2%. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.