Microstructures and mechanical properties of tungsten wire/particle reinforced Zr57Nb5Al10Cu15.4Ni12.6 metallic glass matrix composites

Tungsten wire or particle reinforced metallic glass matrix composites are produced by infiltrating liquid Zr57Nb5Al10Cu15.4Ni12.6 (Vit106) into tungsten reinforcements at 1150 and at 1425 K. X-ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry, and scanning electron microscopy are carried out to characterize the composite. The matrix of the composite processed at 1150 K is mostly amorphous, with some embedded crystals. During processing, tungsten dissolves in the glass-forming melt and upon quenching precipitates over a relatively narrow zone near the interface between the tungsten and matrix. In the composites processed at 1425 K, tungsten dissolves in the melt and diffuses through the liquid medium, and then reprecipitates upon quenching. The faster kinetics at this high temperature results in a uniform distribution of the crystals throughout the matrix. Mechanical properties of the differently processed composites containing wires and particles are compared and discussed. The composites exhibit a plastic strain failure of up to 16% without sacrificing the high-failure strength, which is comparable to monolithic Vit106. (C) 2002 American Institute of Physics.