Phase separation in Cu43Zr43Al7Ag7 bulk metallic glass

The chemical inhomogeneity in Cu43Zr43Al7Ag7 bulk metallic glass has been investigated using a three-dimensional atom probe to understand the enhanced plasticity under compressive mode observed in an injection-cast alloy. Nanoscale phase separation from the melt into Cu-enriched and Ag-enriched amorphous phases was observed, while no evidence for crystallization was found in the as-cast alloy.