Super ductile metallic glasses for energy-saving solid-state processing

Energy-efficient materials are key to combating the high energy costs and climate change. The manufacturing temperatures of industrially important Zr-based bulk metallic glasses (BMGs) relative to steels are low, and exist between the liquidus temperature T-l (similar to 850 degrees C) and glass transition temperature T-g (similar to 400 degrees C). However, these materials show limited plastic deformability (ductility) at room temperature (strains typically less than 3%); moreover they soften but exhibit limited ductility at high processing temperatures. Their low ductility should be improved because it impedes fatigue resistance and machinability, such as via cold (plastic) forming. In this study, chemical composition changes, which reduced T-g, resulted in remarkably ductile BMGs with extreme deformations of over 70% under compression, thereby enabling their energy-efficient processing at low temperatures. In contrast to previously reported conclusions on the high GFA and deformation-induced nanocrystallization being the precursors to ductility, formation of a low amount of meso-crystallites within the glassy material during cooling efficiently hindered the propagation of shear bands and microcracks under loading, thus increasing significantly ductility. This characteristic, in addition to optimal chemical composition, played an important role in improving the ability of BMGs to undergo solid-state processing at low temperatures and increased deformation rates. (c) 2023 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).

Automated summary

Energy-efficient materials are crucial for addressing high energy costs and climate change. This study successfully developed Zr-based bulk metallic glasses with improved ductility through chemical composition changes, enabling efficient processing at low temperatures. Contrary to previous findings, it was discovered that the formation of a small amount of meso-crystallites during cooling effectively hindered the propagation of shear bands and microcracks, significantly enhancing ductility.