Glass forming ability, flexural strength, and wear properties of additively manufactured Zr-based bulk metallic glasses produced through laser powder bed fusion

An evaluation of low-cost, high-oxygen content Zr-Cu-Al-Nb bulk metallic glasses (BMGs) produced through laser powder bed fusion (PBF) was performed. Four-point bending and wear resistance tests were used to compare the mechanical properties of the printed alloy with laboratory grade cast parts. It is shown that the laser PBF parts, while not being able to be cast as a bulk glass, can be printed amorphous up to at least several millimeters thick and yet still have reasonable mechanical properties.