Processing of bulk metallic glasses with high strength and large compressive plasticity in Cu50Zr50

Fully metallic glassy rods of 1.5 mm diameter were successfully prepared in binary Cu50Zr50 alloy by copper mould injection casting method. The samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). Room temperature uniaxial compression tests for the Young’s modulus, fracture strength and total strain yield values of about 88 GPa, 2550 MPa and 11.7%, respectively. Significant work hardening is also observed from the stress–strain curves. The 1–2 nm scale medium-range ordering revealed by HRTEM investigations is thought to be responsible for the high strength, significant work hardening and large plasticity of the samples.