Ductile-to-brittle transition of in situ dendrite-reinforced metallic-glass–matrix composites

The maximum strength of monolithic bulk metallic glasses (BMGs) at 77 K is predicted according to the proposed equation, σmax.77=55ρ0MΔTg+Δσ. For the dendrite-reinforced BMG–matrix composites, a distinctly increased maximum strength is seen; however, a ductile-to-brittle transition seems to be present when lowering the temperature to 77 K, which is caused by the ductile-to-brittle transition of the dendrites. The crack, initiated within the dendrites, may extend to the glass matrix at low temperatures. As a result, early failure of the composites occurs.