Dynamic Stress–Strain Behavior in ZrTiCuNiAl Noncrystalline Alloys Pretreated Under High Pressures

For actual structural engineering applications of materials, many kinds of extreme conditions like high-speed dynamic loading, low temperature, high pressure, other than normal ones should be appreciated. In this paper, the as-casted and high-pressure-treated ZrTiCuNiAl noncrystalline alloys under 0 to 4 GPa at room temperature were investigated by X-ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry, and nanoindentation. We find that the nonhydrostatic high pressure does not result in the crystallization but can significantly improve the mechanical performance, in particular the plasticity of the noncrystalline alloys. The investigation concerning the effect of the high pressure treatment on the mechanical behavior of the Zr-based alloy is potentially useful for suggesting possible external means to control the microstructure and mechanical performance of the amorphous materials.