Nanoparticle-enabled phase modification (nano-treating) of CuZrSi pseudo-binary alloy

For many alloys, bulky and brittle intermetallic phases are detrimental to their properties, and the refinement of those phases is considered a long-time challenge. Here, we show that nanoparticles (NPs) can modify and refine such intermetallics to the ultrafine/nanoscale during solidification. Cu-ZrCuSi pseudo-binary alloy was nano-treated by approximately 1 vol.% and 4 vol.% WC nanoparticles through dilution of a Cu/WC nanocomposite master. While 1 vol.% WC nanoparticles transformed the ZrCuSi phase partially, significant morphology transformation and refinement of ZrCuSi (originally 8 +/- 7 m) down to the ultrafine/nanoscale was achieved upon the addition of 4 vol.% WC nanoparticles, which arose from the nanoparticle-enabled phase control during solidification. The CuZrSi alloy with 4 vol.% WC nanoparticles exhibit simultaneously enhanced hardness, strength, and plasticity over pure CuZrSi due to the effective intermetallic modification by nanoparticles.