An in situ high-energy X-ray diffraction study of micromechanical behavior of Zr-based metallic glass reinforced porous W matrix composite

The micromechanical behavior of the Zr-based metallic glass reinforced porous W matrix composite was investigated by means of in situ high-energy synchrotron X-ray diffraction (HEXRD) during uniaxial compression. The lattice strain of the W phase during compressive deformation was quantitatively measured by fitting diffraction patterns. A self-consistent model was accordingly used to simulate the mechanical properties of the W phase. The stress and strain distributions of the Zr-based metallic glass phase were calculated using the rule of mixture. The results indicated that the W phase yielded firstly in the early stage of deformation, while the metallic glass phase remained elastic. The transfer of the load accelerated with the stress increased. The formation and propagation of shear bands contributed to the deformation of the metallic glass phase.

► The micromechanical behavior of BMG composite was studied by HEXRD in compression.
► The lattice strain of W phase was quantitatively measured by fitting diffraction patterns.
► Compared to the metallic glass, the W yielded firstly in early stage of deformation.