Effect of surface morphology on the oxidation behavior of bulk metallic glass

The effect of surface morphology on the oxidation behavior of a Zr55Cu30Al10Ni5 bulk metallic glass was investigated. The results revealed that specimens with rougher surfaces oxidized faster than specimens with smoother surfaces, resulting in larger and denser segregated particles, as well as thicker scales. The effect of surface morphology on the oxidation behavior was explained from the aspects of thermodynamics and diffusion kinetics. It was found that it is the scratch sharpness, rather than the roughness, should account for the acceleration effect on BMG, which is different from that of crystalline materials.