High-zirconium-based bulk metallic glasses with large plasticity

Zr–Al–Ni–Cu bulk metallic glasses (BMGs) with the content of Zr up to 72 at.% were prepared by copper mold casting. The compressive strain and fracture strength for Zr72Ni7.5Cu13Al7.5 BMG reach 9.5% and 1730 MPa, respectively. The large plasticity of the BMGs is considered to originate in the large amount of free volume induced by the increase in Zr, which results in the initiation, branching, and interaction of high frequency of shear hands during the compressive deformation.