Cavitation erosion behaviour of Zr-based bulk metallic glasses

The cavitation erosion (CE) behaviour of four Zr-based bulk metallic glasses (BMGs) of general composition Zr-Al-CuNi(Co) was investigated by means of an ultrasonic vibration device and compared with that of S30431 austenitic stainless steel. The results show that the CE resistance of Zr-based BMGs, in terms of incubation time and maximum rate of erosion, is approximately 10 times higher than that of S30431 austenitic stainless steel. It was also found that a small addition of Co (3 at.%) decreases significantly the maximum rate of erosion of the Zr-based BMG investigated. Initial hardness of the Zr-based BMGs was found to be in a good correlation with their maximum cavitation erosion rates. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.