Homogeneous size reduction of metallic glass in a common acidic aqueous medium

•The Al-based metallic glass powders were obtained by an inert gas atomization.•The size of Al86Ni6Y4.5Co2La1.5 can be reduced homogeneously via immersion in HCl (aq).•Lowering the corrosion/erosion rate of Al by La led to a homogeneous size reduction.

This report shows that the size of Al-based metallic glass, Al86Ni6Y4.5Co2La1.5, particles containing a rare-earth element can be reduced homogeneously from 14.501 μm to 1.456 μm in average diameters without any change in its shape, morphology, composition or amorphous structure via a very simple process that involves immersion in an aqueous HCl acid solution with a specific concentration.

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