Mechanical property and fracture behavior of strip cast Zr-base BMG alloy containing crystalline phase

Abstract

Effects of crystalline particles formed in the strip cast Zr-base bulk metallic glass (BMG) alloy on ductility and strength were investigated in this study by directly observing microfracture processes. The compressive and fracture toughness test results indicated that ductility, strength, and fracture toughness of the strip cast BMG alloy were higher than those of the die cast monolithic BMG alloy, although the strip cast alloy contained a considerable amount (4.5 vol.%) of hard, brittle crystalline particles. The improvement of mechanical properties in the strip cast BMG alloy could be plausibly explained by mechanisms of (1) blocking of shear bands or crack propagation, (2) formation of multiple shear bands, and (3) crack deflection by crystalline particles. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.