Corrosion-fatigue study of a Zr-based bulk-metallic glass in a physiologically relevant environment

Four-point-bend corrosion-fatigue experiments were conducted in a physiologically relevant environment to study the environmental effects on the fatigue behavior of (Zr0.55Al0.10Ni0.05Cu0.30)99Y1 (at.%) bulk-metallic glasses (BMGs), and the results were compared with those obtained in air at room temperature. At high stress ranges, the corrosive environment did not significantly affect the fatigue lifetime; while at low stress ranges, the corrosive environment exhibited a detrimental effect on the fatigue resistance. The fatigue strength was decreased by 40% in the physiologically relevant environment. Fracture morphologies after fatigue tests were studied by the scanning electron microscopy. The mechanism for the environmental effects on the fatigue life of the (Zr0.55Al0.10Ni0.05Cu0.30)99Y1 BMG was determined to be anodic dissolution.