Mechanical properties of a two-phase amorphous Ni–Nb–Y alloy studied by nanoindentation

The deformation behavior of rapidly solidified two-phase amorphous Ni–Nb–Y alloy has been investigated by nanoindentation and high-resolution scanning electron microscopy and correlated with the mechanical properties of the two individual phases composing the system (Ni–Y and Ni–Nb). While the elastic deformation of the two-phase alloy obeys the rule of mixtures for a composite, the plastic deformation is governed by the softer matrix but enhanced, in part, by the deflection of shear bands by the globular harder phase.