A thermal processing map of a ZrCuNiAlEr bulk metallic glass in the supercooled liquid region

Thermal compression tests of (Zr 0.6336 Cu 0.1452 Ni 0.1012 Al 0.12 ) 97.4 Er 2.6 bulk metallic glass (BMG) were performed at temperature of 410, 420, 430 and 440 °C and strain rates of 5 × 10 −4 , 10 −3 , 5 × 10 −3 and 10 −2 s −1 , and a thermal processing map was constructed in the supercooled liquid region. The results indicate that in low strain rate regions (5 × 10 −4 –10 −3 s −1 ), the processing efficiency range is 70–85% and stress range is 70–120 MPa with temperatures of 410 and 420 °C, and the samples can be thermally processed under relatively small stress and show better fluidity, so temperatures of 410 and 420 °C and the strain rate range of 5 × 10 −4 –10 −3 s −1 are optional thermal processing parameters. When the temperature is 430 °C and the strain rate range is 5 × 10 −4 –10 −2 s −1 , the processing efficiency range is 75–85%, and the stress range is 16–106 MPa. The (Zr 0.6336 Cu 0.1452 Ni 0.1012 Al 0.12 ) 97.4 Er 2.6 BMG can be thermoformed under smaller flow stress and shows excellent fluidity; therefore, 430 °C and 5 × 10 −4 –10 −2 s −1 also are optional thermal processing parameters.