Isothermal Stability and Selected Mechanical Properties of Zr48Cu36Al8Ag8 Bulk Metallic Glass

The aim of this work was to investigate the influence of isothermal annealing on the amorphous structure stability of the Zr Cu Al Ag alloy. A series of continuous heating examinations was performed on the differential scanning calorimeter in order to determine the temperature limits for isothermal annealing series where the time to crystallization was measured. The obtained results were calculated and a time-temperature-transformation diagram was created and discussed. Static compression test as well as microhardness measurements of the as-quenched samples gave a mechanical properties results supplement. The measured properties (σ = 1800 MPa and 614 HV0.05) are comparable to the literature results for this alloy. Fractographic observations with the scanning electron microscope were also performed in order to prove some plasticity observed during the strength tests.