Consolidation of mechanically alloyed Mg49Y15Cu36 powders by vacuum hot pressing

The preparation of Mg49Y15Cu36 metallic glass powders was accomplished by mechanical alloying of pure Mg, Y, and Cu after 10 h of milling. The thermal stability of these Mg49Y15Cu36 amorphous powders was investigated by differential scanning calorimeter (DSC). The Tg, Tx and ΔTx are 450, 492, and 42 K, respectively. The as-milled Mg49Y15Cu36 powders were then consolidated by vacuum hot pressing into disc compacts with a diameter and thickness of 10 and 1 mm, respectively. After vacuum hot pressing, bulk Mg49Y15Cu36 metallic glass with nanocrystalline precipitates homogeneously embedded in a highly dense glassy matrix was obtained. The applied pressure during consolidation can enhance the thermal stability and prolong the existence of amorphous phase inside Mg49Y15Cu36 powders.