Synthesis and mechanical behavior of nanocomposite Mg- based bulk metallic glasses

Nanocomposites can be produced by partial crystallization of bulk metallic glasses (BMG). The introduction of such nanocrystals in an amorphous matrix can sharply change the mechanical behavior of the glass at both room and high temperatures. In the present study, the effect of nanocrystallization in Mg-based BMG is studied in the system (Mg0.65Cu0.25Gd0.10)100-xFex for 0 ≤ x ≤ 6 and the effects of partial crystallization of the Mg65Cu25Gd10 BMG at various percentages of transformation. Various techniques (DSC, DRX, TEM) are used to get data about the nature, the volume fraction or the average size of the crystals. Mechanical properties at room temperature and nearby the glass transition are investigated in compression. The fracture stress is enhanced by iron addition, but no favourable effect of partial crystallization is observed for the Mg65Cu25Gd10 BMG. © 2001 Elsevier Science