Bing Chen Wei

Binary Ni–Nb bulk metallic glasses

We studied the glass forming ability of Ni–Nb binary alloys and found that some of the alloys can be prepared into bulk metallic glasses by a conventional Cu-mold casting. The best glass former within the compositional range studied is off-eutectic Ni62Nb38 alloy, which is markedly different from those predicted by the multicomponent and deep eutectic rules. The glass formation mechanism for binary Ni–Nb alloys was studied from the thermodynamic point of view and a parameter γ* was proposed to approach the ability of glass formation against crystallization.

Plasticity-improved Zr-Cu-Al bulk metallic glass matrix composites containing martensite phase

Zr48.5Cu46.5Al5 bulk metallic glass matrix composites with diameters of 3 and 4mm were produced through water-cooled copper mold casting. Micrometer-sized bcc based B2 structured CuZr phase containing martensite plate, together with some densely distributed nanocrystalline Zr2Cu and plate-like Cu10Zr7 compound, was found embedded in a glassy matrix. The microstructure formation strongly depends on the composition and cooling rate. Room temperature compression tests reveal significant strain hardening and plastic strains of 7.7% and 6.4% before failure are obtained for the 3-mm- and 4-mm-diam samples, respectively. The formation of the martensite phase is proposed to contribute to the strain hardening and plastic deformation of the materials.

Stability of ZrTiCuNiBe bulk metallic glass upon isothermal annealing near the glass transition temperature

The stability of Zr41Ti14Cu12.5Ni10Be22.5 bulk metallic glass (BMG) upon isothermal annealing near the glass transition temperature has been investigated by using x-ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry, and the pulse echo overlap method. The density, elastic constants, and thermodynamic parameters as well as their annealing time dependence have been determined. The microstructural and properties changes of the annealed BMG were checked by acoustic measurement. Obvious structural and property changes were observed with prolonged annealing of the BMG near the glass transition temperature.

Structural evolution and property changes in Nd60Al10Fe20Co10 bulk metallic glass during crystallization

The structural evolution and property changes in Nd60Al10Fe20Co10 bulk metallic glass (BMG) upon crystallization are investigated by the ultrasonic method, x-ray diffraction, density measurement, and differential scanning calorimetry. The elastic constants and Debye temperature of the BMG are obtained as a function of annealing temperature. Anomalous changes in ultrasonic velocities, elastic constants, and density are observed between 600–750 K, corresponding to the formation of metastable phases as an intermediate product in the crystallization process. The changes in acoustic velocities, elastic constants, density, and Debye temperature of the BMG relative to its fully crystallized state are much smaller, compared with those of other known BMGs, the differences being attributed to the microstructural feature of the BMG.

Nd65Al10Fe25−xCox (x=0,5,10) bulk metallic glasses with wide supercooled liquid regions

Bulk metallic glasses of Nd65Al10Fe25-xCox (x=0,5,10) have been prepared in the form of 3 mm diam rods. Results of differential scanning calrimetry, dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA), and x-ray diffraction are presented for these alloys. It is shown that the glass transition and crystallization have been observed by DMTA. The reduced glass transition temperature of these glasses, defined as the ratio between the glass transition temperature T-g and the melting temperature T-l is in the range from 0.55 to 0.62. All these glasses have a large supercooled liquid region (SLR), ranging from 80 to 130 K. The high value of reduced glass transition temperature and wide SLR agree with their good glass formation ability.

Instrumented indentation study of plastic deformation in bulk metallic glasses

Mechanical properties and micro-plastic deformation behavior of five bulk metallic Glasses (BMGs) were studied by instrumented indentation. These materials included La60Al10Ni10Cu20, Mg65Cu25Gd10, Zr52.5Al10Ni10Cu15Be12.5, Cu60Zr20Hf10Ti10, and Ni60Nb37Sn3 alloys. Remarkable difference in deformation behavior was found in the load-displacement curves of nanoindentation and pileup morphologies around the indents. Serrated plastic deformation depended on the loading rate was found in Mg-, Zr-, and Cu-based BMGs. The subsurface plastic deformation zone of typical alloys was investigated through bonded interface technique using depth-sensing microindentation. Large and widely spaced shear bands were observed in Mg-based BMG. The effect of loading rate on the indentation deformation behaviors in different BMGs was elucidated by the change of shear band pattern.

Formation and properties of Zr48Nb8Fe8Cu12Be24 bulk metallic glass

The spin-s quantum Heisenberg ferromagnetic model is investigated in the physical magnon theory. The effect of the extra unphysical magnon states on every site is completely removed in the magnon Hamiltonian and during approximation procedure so that the condition = 0(n greater than or equal to 2s + 1) is rigorously satisfied. The physical multi-approximation occupancy (1 less than or equal to n less than or equal to 2s) is proportional to T-3n/2 at low temperature and is equivalent to 1/(2s + 1) at the Curie temperature. The magnetization not only unified but also well-behaved from zero temperature to Curie temperature is obtained in the framework of the magnon theory for the spin-s quantum Heisenberg ferromagnetic model. The ill-behaved magnetizations at high temperature in earlier magnon theories are completely corrected. The relation of magnon (spin wave) theory with spin-operator decoupling theory is clearly understood

Elastic behaviour and microstructural characteristics of Nd60Al10Fe20Co10 bulk metallic glass investigated by ultrasonic measurement under pressure

An ultrasonic pulse-echo method was used to measure the transit time of longitudinal and transverse (10 MHz) elastic waves in a Nd60Al10Fe20Co10 bulk metallic glass (BMG). The measurements were carried out under hydrostatic pressure up to 0.5 GPa at room temperature. On the basis of experimental data for the sound velocities and density, the elastic moduli and Debye temperature of the BMG were derived as a function of pressure. Murnaghans equation of state is obtained. The normal behaviour of the positive pressure dependence of the ultrasonic velocities was observed for this glass. Moreover, the compression curve, the elastic constants, and the Debye temperature of the BMG are calculated on the basis of the similarity between their physical properties in the glassy state and those in corresponding crystalline state. These results confirm qualitatively the theoretical predictions concerning the features of the microstructure and interatomic bonding in the Nd60Al10Fe20Co10 BMG.

Microstructure and magnetic properties of Nd60Al10Fe20Co10 glass-forming alloy

The microstructural variations of the Nd60Al10Fe20Co10 melt-spun ribbons and the as-cast rod were studied by high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), x-ray diffraction (XRD) and differential scanning calorimetry. Nano-clusters in glassy matrix in both melt-spun ribbon and the as-cast rod samples were observed by HRTEM, though no obvious crystalline reflections were displayed in either the XRD or selected area electron diffraction patterns. The magnetic properties of the rod sample were compared to that of the ribbons. It was found that the coercivity of the alloy increases with the size of the nano-scaled clusters, while the cluster size increases with the reduction of cooling rate at which the sample were prepared. The relationship between the microstructure and magnetic and thermal properties of the Nd based alloy were discussed by random anisotropy model.

A porous bulk metallic glass with unidirectional opening pores

Porous Zr-based bulk metallic glass (PMG) with unidirectional opening pores is prepared by electrochemical etching of tungsten wires of the W/bulk metallic glass (BMG) composites. The porosity and pore size can be controlled by adjusting the tungsten wires. The PMG showed no measurable loss in thermal stability as compared to the monolithic Zr-based BMG by water quenching and is more ductile and softer than the pore-free counterpart. The specific surface area of the PMGs is calculated to be 0.65, 3.96, and 10.54 m(2)/kg for 20, 60, and 80 vol % porosity, respectively. (c) 2007 The Electrochemical Society.