The effect of heat treatment on microstructure and tensile properties of cold spray Zr base metal glass/Cu composite

ZrCuAlNiTi metal glass (MG) powders were prepared by inert gas-atomization with a mean particle size of 40 μm. Copper based composite with a 5% weight fraction of metallic glass powder were manufactured using cold spraying. Microhardness, tensile test (NOL ring samples) and tribology test were employed to characterize the corresponding deposits. The influence of the metallic glass particles (MG) addition and post heat treatment on the microstructure and mechanical properties of the composite was studied with a focus on the interaction between the matrix and the reinforcing particles. The composite exhibits higher tensile strength (about 366 MPa) than pure copper in the as sprayed condition and also better elongation which increases from 3.0% to 6.6% following the addition of MG. A lower wear rate (0.62 × 10− 5 mm3/(N × m)) of the composite indicates that the MG particles allow improving the wear resistance.