Bulk metallic glass formation near the TiCu–TiNi pseudo-binary eutectic composition

Abstract

No bulk metallic glass (BMG) has been observed so far in the Ti–Cu binary system. It has been found that by choosing a pseudo-binary eutectic (L → TiCu +TiNi) deeper than that in the binary, reachable via only small substitution of Cu with Ni, the glass-forming ability can be effectively elevated. BMGs of 1–1.5 mm diameter have been formed over a composition range around Ti₅₀Cu₄₃Ni₇. The new BMGs are reproducibly malleable with significant compressive plastic strains.

Keywords:

• bulk amorphous materials
• metallic glasses
• pseudo-binary eutectic
• plasticity
• titanium

Acknowledgements

This research was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China under contract No. 50371084 and National Basic Research Program of China (973 Program) under contract No. 2007CB613906.