Microstructure and mechanical properties of Zr46Cu46Al8 bulk metallic glass after annealing treatment

The crystallization and mechanical behavior of Zr46Cu46Al8 MG is investigated. The small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) and extended X-ray absorption fine structure spectra (EXAFS) is used to reveal the microstructure of Zr46Cu46Al8 bulk metallic glasses (BMG) after isothermal annealing. The incubation period of Zr46Cu46Al8 BMGs was less than 10 min under a variable heating rate. Moreover, a stable crystallization point was determined with nanocrystalline particles sized at 32 Å at the equilibrium using SANS. The Zr and Al atoms shifted outward during crystallization. Thus, the crystallization mechanisms of the Zr46Cu46Al8 BMGs are discussed based on the results of the SANS, X-ray diffraction, EXAFS, and differential scanning calorimetry analyses. The mechanical properties of the BMG and its composites were investigated using a nanoindentation test.