Effect of microstructures on the compressive deformation and fracture behaviors of Zr₄₇Cu₄₆Al₇ bulk metallic glass composites

The compressive deformation and fracture behaviors of a Zr₄₇Cu₄₆Al₇ bulk metallic glass (BMG) and its composites with different microstructures were investigated. For the fully amorphous alloy, due to the formation of coarse primary shear bands and multiple secondary shear bands, it exhibited a high plasticity up to 14.5% with a 'work softening' during compressive test. With the increase in the volume fraction of primary crystallizing phases, the BMG composites displayed low strength and poor plasticity even failing in a brittle mode. Furthermore, the effects of microstructures on the compressive deformation and fracture behaviors of the BMG composites were discussed.