Microstructure and properties of spark plasma sintered Fe-Cr-Mo-Y-B-C bulk metallic glass

Fabrication of Fe-based amorphous alloy using spark plasma sintering (SPS) process has been reported. Fully amorphous compacts with similar to 95% relative density were successfully sintered at temperature about 100 degrees C lower than glass transition temperature (T(g): 575 degrees C). Formation of crystalline Fe(23)(C, B)(6) phases within near-fully dense (similar to 99%) amorphous matrix is observed at sintering temperatures (>550 degrees C) close to glass transition temperature. Microstructure evolution in sintered compacts indicated that density, degree of crystallinity, and mechanical properties can be effectively controlled by optimizing SPS parameters. Published by Elsevier B.V.