Plasticity in Ni59Zr20Ti16Si2Sn3 metallic glass matrix composites containing brass fibers synthesized by warm extrusion of powders

Deformation behavior of centimeter-scale Ni-based metallic glass matrix composites reinforced by brass fibers, synthesized by warm extrusion of gas atomized powders, has been investigated under the uniaxial compression condition at room temperature. Throughout the extrusion process, all blended spherical powders are elongated along the extrusion direction. The brass fibers are well distributed in the metallic glass matrix for the metallic glass matrix composites containing the brass up to 0.4 in volume fraction and no pores are visible. With increasing the brass content, elastic modulus and strength decrease due to the softness of the brass, but enhanced macroscopic plasticity is observed due to the formation of multiple shear bands, initiated from the interface between brass fiber and metallic glass matrix, as well as their confinement between the brass fibers. These behaviors are not observed in the sample synthesized by warm extrusion of only metallic glass powders. (C) 2003 American Institute of Physics.