Mechanical stability of Ca65Mg15Zn20 bulk metallic glass during deformation in the supercooled liquid region

Ca65Mg15Zn20 bulk metallic glass (BMG) samples of dimensions 3.2 mm × 7 mm × 125 mm were prepared using a low-pressure die casting technique. These samples were ground to produce tensile test pieces in compliance with ASTM E8-04. This work is the first reported study of the tensile behaviour of Ca65Mg15Zn20 BMG in the supercooled liquid region (105–120 °C). Two deformation conditions were used for testing: (i) constant strain rate testing from 10−3 to 10−4 s−1 and (ii) constant load testing using loads of 20–50 N applied to a tensile sample during heating at a constant rate of 5 °C s−1. The maximum elongation to failure in the BMG was in excess of 850% for constant load testing although, under isothermal testing conditions, most samples failed after ∼200% elongation. It is concluded that large superplastic elongations (>500%) during isothermal tensile straining is difficult in this alloy due to the onset of crystallization.