Sample Preparation and HR-TEM Investigation Techniques of Ti Based, Ga Containing, Amorphous Alloys

Titanium based bulk metallic glasses (BMGs) are characterized by properties such as high corrosion resistance, Youngs modulus, hardness, fracture strength and wear resistance that recommend them as performant biomaterials for orthopedics and dentistry. Present researches have been focused on some Ti-Zr-Cu-Ga-Si-Sn alloy which could be feasible alternative to almost classical nickel containing BMGs. has been casted by vacuum suction in a copper mold. Suction casting has been used to produce by mean of ultra-rapid cooling experimental samples as 2mm cylinders, and complex investigation program based on optical microscopy, SEM, and HR-TEM techniques has been performed to characterize resulting microstructure. Although presence of gallium produces considerable difficulties in sample preparation, investigations based on high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM) have evidenced simultaneous presence of amorphous, crystalline and partially crystalline structures.