Effect of the cooling rate on plastic deformability of a Zr-based bulk metallic glass

The present work found the plastic deformability of Zr₆₅Cu _17.5Ni₁₀Al_7.5 BMG dependent on the cooling rate during the formation from the molten state alloy. The deformation behavior in the compression test of φ 2 mm Zr₆₅Cu_17.5Ni ₁₀Al_7.5 BMGs as-cast or lathed from different sizes as-cast samples was characterized, and they exhibited different plastic strains. The compressive plastic strain increases with the decreasing diameter of the as-cast specimens, i.e. with increasing the cooling rate. It is suggested that free volume content in the BMGs, which is related to the cooling rate during the rapid solidification, could play an important role in the deformation process of the BMGs.