Micro-alloying of yttrium in Zr-based bulk metallic glasses

The effect of yttrium addition on the glass-forming ability (GFA) and mechanical properties of the Zr-based (Zr0.525Al0.1Ti0.05Cu0.179Ni0.146)100−x Yx and (Zr0.55Al0.15Ni0.1Cu0.2)100−x Yx (x=0, 0.2, 0.4 0.6, 1, 2) alloys was studied. Micro-alloying of 0.6% yttrium enhances the room temperature ductility as well as the GFA of the Zr-based alloys. The mechanism of enhancing the GFA and room temperature ductility was analyzed. It is indicated that proper yttrium addition stabilizes the undercooled liquid by means of forming lots of ordered clusters, thus improving the GFA and the room temperature ductility.