The metal-metalloid glassy alloys (Fe,Cr)(80)(P,C,Si)(20) and Fe75Cr5P8C10Si2 were ground to finely-dispersed powders. If the grinding procedure was carried out in the presence of water and the resulting aqueous dispersion was stored for 8 weeks at room temperature visible changes could be observed at the surface of the material as a result of this tribomechanical treatment process The glassy alloy loses its excellent chemical resistance and, by formation of a hydroxide layer on the glass surface, it shows behaviour like that of a conventional steel with its structure of crystalline phases. (C) 1997 Published by Elsevier Science Limited.