Corrosion-fatigue study of a Zr-based bulk-metallic glass in a physiologically relevant environment

Four-point-bend corrosion-fatigue experiments were conducted in a physiologically relevant environment to study the environmental effects on the fatigue behavior of (Zr_0.55Al_0.10Ni_0.05Cu _0.30)₉₉Y₁ (at.%) bulk-metallic glasses (BMGs), and the results were compared with those obtained in air at room temperature. At high stress ranges, the corrosive environment did not significantly affect the fatigue lifetime; while at low stress ranges, the corrosive environment exhibited a detrimental effect on the fatigue resistance. The fatigue strength was decreased by 40% in the physiologically relevant environment. Fracture morphologies after fatigue tests were studied by the scanning electron microscopy. The mechanism for the environmental effects on the fatigue life of the (Zr_0.55Al_0.10Ni_0.05Cu_0.30) ₉₉Y₁ BMG was determined to be anodic dissolution.