Effects of Y addition on structural and mechanical properties of CuZrAl bulk metallic glass

The effects of Y addition on the structural and mechanical properties of CuZrAl bulk metallic glass (BMG) were studied. The results show that the glass forming ability of CuZrAl system is improved by the addition of Y and the fracture strength decreases with Y addition due to the reduction of binding energy induced by Y. The fracture surface is dominated by vein-like patterns in Cu45Zr48Al7 bulk metallic glass, and changes to smooth regions in Cu46Zr42Al7Y5 BMG. TEM observation shows that Cu45Zr48Al7 BMG has a composite microstructure of nanocrystalline phases dispersed in amorphous matrix. However, the Cu46Zr42Al7Y5 BMG shows a fully amorphous structure.