Additive manufacturing of bulk metallic glasses: Fundamental principle, current/future developments and applications

As an advanced manufacturing technique, the advent of additive manufacturing (AM) has opened a new horizon of alternative ways to tackle the challenge of fundamental limits for manufacturing bulk metallic glasses (BMGs). In particular, selective laser melting (SLM), direct metal deposition (DMD), electron beam melting (EBM), and laser foil printing (LFP) have been used for producing BMGs with dimensions larger than what is possible using conventional techniques such as melt-spinning, suction-casting, die-casting, etc. In this review, we analyzed the current status, issues, structural evolution, and key properties of BMGs based on these emerging AM technologies. The aim is to outline a direction for the development of BMGs using AM technology, establishing a fundamental principle to optimize processing parameters for designing alloy compositions with the high glass-forming ability (GFA), and thermal stability against crystallization. This will provide the fundamental science underpinning the future development of AM technology in the fabrication of high-density, defect-free, and completely amorphous alloy components and devices. (c) 2022 Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of The editorial office of Journal of Materials Science & Technology.

Automated summary

Additive manufacturing technologies have opened up new possibilities for addressing the challenges of manufacturing bulk metallic glasses. Analyzing the application of emerging AM technologies to BMGs provides a scientific foundation for future development.