High strength and plastic strain of Mg-based bulk metallic glass composite containing in situ formed intermetallic phases

This paper reports the design and synthesis of the in situ intermetallic-phase reinforced amorphous-matrix composite (Mg65Cu10Ni10Y10Zn5)91Zr9. In situ formed intermetallic ZrNi particles significantly improve the mechanical properties of the composite. The composite shows a compressive strength as high as 1039 MPa, and its ductility is substantially higher than that of the monolithic metallic glass. The mechanism governing the formation of the intermetallic phase and the beneficial effect of the hard intermetallic particles on the deformation and fracture of the composite is discussed.