Effects of Ar ion irradiation on the diffusion bonding joints of Zr55Cu30Ni5Al10 bulk metallic glass to aluminum alloy

1 keV low energy argon ion beam was used to irradiate the surface of Zr55Cu30Ni5Al10 bulk metallic glass. Bulk metallic glass specimens irradiated for different times were used to join with Aluminum alloy by argon ion activated diffusion bonding. Compared with the joints using the as-cast bulk metallic glass, the tensile strength of the joints using irradiated specimens had a drastic improvement. Moreover, a crystalline layer was obtained in the BMG side of the joint interface using irradiated specimens. The improved joint quality was attributed to the local heating resulting from a crystallization behavior of irradiated surface layer which increases the probability of jumping the barrier to form the atom bonds, as well as the significant enhancement of the atomic diffusivity after crystallization.

► Low energy ion beam was used to irradiate the surface of BMG before diffusion bonding.
► The tensile strength of the joints using irradiated specimens had a drastic improvement.
► A crystalline layer was detected in the BMG side of the joint interface using irradiated specimens.
► The improved joint quality was attributed to the crystallization behavior of interface layer.