Centimeter-sized CuZrAl bulk metallic glass with good plasticity and chemical heterogeneity

In this study, a new CuZrAl ternary bulk metallic glass (BMG) with glass forming ability (GFA) of 10 mm in diameter was fabricated. The GFA of the BMG was discussed based on the suppression of the competing crystal phase and the efficient dense packing of the constituting atoms. Compression testing showed that the CuZrAl ternary BMG has good true plastic deformation of 11.7%, whereas its adjacent composition has a plastic deformation of 16.1%. Mapping by energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy in scanning transmission mode revealed that chemical heterogeneity exists in the CuZrAl BMGs. Chemical heterogeneity revealed to be a possible reason for the observed mechanical behavior of the CuZrAl ternary BMGs.