Micro forming and deformation behaviors of Zr50.5Cu27.45Ni13.05Al9 amorphous wires

Metallic glasses often show excellent mechanical and physical properties due to their random atomic packing. But as a new kind of potential engineering material, metallic glasses have challenged the traditional processing methods. In this paper, the Zr50.5Cu27.45Ni13.05Al9 metallic glassy wires at micro scales with a smooth surface and negligible fluctuation in diameter were prepared by the melt-extraction method, and the challenges associated with fabrication of metallic glassy wires were critically assessed. Their mechanical properties were evaluated by carrying out tensile and bending tests, and their strength reliability was estimated by using Weibull analysis. The tensile failure of the wires was controlled by both the normal stress and shear stress. A model of the shear bands evolution was developed based on the bending test.

In this equipment, the cylindrical rod by induction melting was placed in a boron nitride tube on the sample holder, and its position was controlled by a motor. The feed rate of the cylindrical rod Vs was set to be 90 μms−1. The edge angle of the Cu wheel (diameter about 200 mm) was fixed at an angle of 60°. The circumferential velocity of the Cu wheel Vw was 30 ms−1. By moving up the melt cylindrical rod towards the Cu wheel the melt was extracted sideways under a high purity argon atmosphere, and formed a fine, rapidly cooled circular wire with a high surface-to-volume ratio.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slideHighlights
► ZrCuNiAl metallic glassy wires are prepared by a melt-extraction method.
► Challenges associated with fabrication are critically assessed.
► Tensile fracture strength reliability is high.
► ZrCuNiAl metallic glassy wires show high strength and good ductility.