Fabrication and mechanical properties of a tungsten wire reinforced Cu-Zr-Al bulk metallic glass composite

A Cu50Zr43Al7 bulk metallic glass matrix/tungsten wire composite was fabricated by infiltration process at different temperatures (900, 950 and 1000 degrees C) and time (10, 20 and 30 min). Structural studies and mechanical behaviors of the materials have been investigated by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction method and quasistatic compressive test, respectively. It has been found that the best mechanical properties (ultimate compressive stress and elongation at the stress are equal to 2.22 GPa and 7.45%, respectively) of the composite achieved at 900 degrees C for 10 min. In this condition, based on structural analysis, it has been shown that some crystalline phases evenly formed in the matrix and affected the fracture mode. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.