Fabrication and mechanical properties of porous Zr-based bulk metallic glass

A porous Zr-based bulk metallic glass with a diameter of 6 mm was fabricated by melt infiltrating casting method. The porous cell morphology, structure, fracture surface and phase constituent of the porous material were investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffractometry (XRD), respectively. And the mechanical properties and cell structure were also discussed. The results show that a uniform distribution of porous cells with size of 0.2-0.8 mm forms by introducing CaC₂ particles as space holders. The density and porosity of the porous bulk metallic glass are 3.57 g/cm₃ and 47%, respectively. The largest yield strength of this porous material is 384 MPa and it gradually declines accompanied by serrated flow under compression. The final failure occurs at a strain of 18.6%, well in excess of monolithic amorphous alloys.