Temperature, strain rate and reinforcement volume fraction dependence of plastic deformation in metallic glass matrix composites

A systematic study of mechanical properties is presented for Zr-based bulk metallic glass matrix composites, spanning a wide range of strain rates and temperatures, as well as various levels of reinforcement volume fraction. All of the experimental materials exhibit mechanical properties dominated by deformation of the amorphous matrix phase, including inhomogeneous flow and fracture at low temperatures, as well as homogeneous flow of both Newtonian and non-Newtonian character at high temperatures. In the homogeneous flow regime, the composites exhibit clear strengthening as the volume fraction of reinforcement increases. This strengthening effect is quantitatively explained in both the Newtonian and non-Newtonian regimes, and is found to arise from two contributions: (i) load transfer from the amorphous matrix to the reinforcements; and (ii) a shift in the glass structure and properties upon precipitation of the reinforcements. An additional source of apparent strengthening – in situ precipitation of reinforcement during deformation – is also discussed.