Metallic glass matrix composite with precipitated ductile reinforcement

We report a composite material consisting of precipitated micron-scale Ta-rich solid solution particles distributed in a bulk metallic glass matrix. The reinforcing ductile particles are precipitated during melting of the master alloy of glass-forming (Zr70Ni10Cu20)(82)Ta8Al10, by using previously prepared metastable Zr-Ta solid solution binary ingots. Upon cooling from the melt, the matrix undergoes a glass transition to produce an amorphous phase while the particles of precipitated Ta solid solution are distributed in the glass matrix. The resulting material not only shows high strength (similar to2.1 GPa), but also has dramatically enhanced plastic strain to failure in uniaxial compression relative to single-phase bulk metallic glasses. The composite also displays limited tensile ductility. (C) 2002 American Institute of Physics.