Friction stir welding of Zr55Cu30Al10Ni5 bulk metallic glass to Al–Zn–Mg–Cu alloy

Zr55Cu30Al10Ni5 bulk metallic glass (BMG) 1.7 mm thick and Al–Zn–Mg–Cu alloy plates were successfully joined by friction stir welding (FSW), producing defect-free BMG–Al joints. Some BMG particles were stirred into the aluminum side of the nugget zone; however, crystallization did not occur during FSW. No reaction layer was detected around the BMG particles and at the interface of two materials. The ultimate tensile strength (432 MPa) of the BMG–Al joint reached up to 74% of the base aluminum alloy.