Influence of minor Si addition on the glass-forming ability and mechanical properties of Pd40Ni40P20 alloy

The influence of a minor Si addition oil the glass-forming ability and mechanical properties of Pd40Ni40P20 alloy was investigated. It is suggested that the minor Si addition can adjust the composition to be closer to eutectic, which favors a large undercooling. Furthermore, Si addition led to an enhancement in the ductility of Pd-Ni-P bulk metallic glasses. Simultaneously it is of great interest that there are nanoscale and microscale wavy steps observed on the fracture surface of Pd40Ni40Si4P16 metallic glass. It is Suggested that a quickly running crack dissipates excess energy in terms of stress wave, leaving Such wavy traces oil the fracture surface of the deformed Pd-based metallic glass. (C) 2009 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.