Effect of crystalline metallic particles on the compressive behavior of a cellular amorphous metal

Molten Vit106 (Zr57Nb5Cu15.4Ni12.6Al10) was infiltrated into a BaF2 preform containing W particles, and quenched. Salt dissolution resulted in an open-porosity foam with struts consisting of amorphous Vit106 containing crystalline W particles. This composite foam exhibits high compressive strains (∼75%), a low plateau stress (∼30 MPa) and higher damage accumulation than prior single-phase Vit106 foams. Likely explanations are the lower porosity in the composite foam (43% vs. 76%), damage from galvanic corrosion during salt removal, and tungsten embrittlement during processing.

► Open-porosity foam with struts consisting of Zr-based BMG containing W particles.
► Acoustic emissions used to evaluate damage evolution during compression.
► Metallic-glass-matrix composite higher damage accumulation single-phase BMG foam.