Fe-C micro-alloying effect on properties of Zr53Al11.6Ni11.7Cu23.7 bulk metallic glass

(Zr53Al11.6Ni11.7Cu23.7)(1-x)(Fe77.1C22.9)(x) (x=0-2.2, at.%) bulk metallic glasses (BMGs) were prepared by copper mold suction casting method. Their glass forming ability and physical and chemical properties were systematically investigated. The glass forming ability is firstly improved with increasing x, and then decreased when x exceeds 0.44 at.%. Both glass transition temperature and crystallization temperature are increased, while the supercooled liquid region is narrowed, with Fe-C micro-alloying. The hardness, yielding and fracture strength, and plasticity firstly increase and then decrease when x reaches up to 1.32 at.%. The plasticity of the BMG (x=1.32 at.%) is six times that of the Fe-free and C-free BMG. In addition, by the Fe-C micro-alloying, the corrosion potential is slightly decreased, while the corrosion current density increases. The pitting corrosion becomes increasingly serious with the increase of Fe and C content.

Automated summary

The study found that Fe-C micro-alloying can improve the glass forming ability and physical and chemical properties of bulk metallic glasses (BMGs), but an increase in Fe and C content within a certain range may lead to a decrease in properties such as hardness.