Metallic Glass-Reinforced Metal Matrix Composites: Design, Interfaces and Properties

Abstract

When metals are modified by second-phase particles or fibers, metal matrix composites (MMCs) are formed. In general, for a given metallic matrix, reinforcements differing in their chemical nature and particle size/morphology can be suitable while providing different levels of strengthening. This article focuses on MMCs reinforced with metallic glasses and amorphous alloys, which are considered as alternatives to ceramic reinforcements. Early works on metallic glass (amorphous alloy)-reinforced MMCs were conducted in 1982-2005. In the following years, a large number of composites have been obtained and tested. Metallic glass (amorphous alloy)-reinforced MMCs have been obtained with matrices of Al and its alloys, Mg and its alloys, Ti alloys, W, Cu and its alloys, Ni, and Fe. Research has been extended to new compositions, new design approaches and fabrication methods, the chemical interaction of the metallic glass with the metal matrix, the influence of the reaction products on the properties of the composites, strengthening mechanisms, and the functional properties of the composites. These aspects are covered in the present review. Problems to be tackled in future research on metallic glass (amorphous alloy)-reinforced MMCs are also identified.

Keywords: amorphous alloy; electrical conductivity; interface; mechanical properties; metal matrix composites; metallic glass; microstructure; reinforcement.

Figure 1

Schematic of the assembly for hot pressing of the ribbons with metal discs (a) and a radiograph of the hot-pressed sample (b). Reprinted from [29], Copyright (1982), with permission from Springer Nature: Chapman and Hall, Ltd.

Figure 2

High-resolution transmission electron microscopy image of a rapidly solidified Al-4V-2Fe alloy. Amorphous regions surrounded by the interconnected α-Al phase are arrowed. Reprinted from [38], Copyright (1998), with permission from Elsevier.

Figure 3

Microstructure of Ni-Nb-Ta metallic glass ribbon-reinforced Al-Si-Mg alloy matrix composite. Reprinted from [35], Copyright (2004), with permission from Elsevier.

Figure 4

Microstructure of Cu + Ni-Zr-Ti-Si-Sn metallic glass composites obtained via (a) cold rolling and folding of Cu foils with Ni-Zr-Ti-Si-Sn metallic glass ribbons, (b) warm rolling of cold-rolled composites sealed in a Cu tube. Reprinted from [36], Copyright (2004), with permission from Elsevier.

Figure 5

Approaches to the design of metallic glass (amorphous alloy)-reinforced MMCs.

Figure 6

Temperature dependence (heating rate 10 K min⁻¹) of the viscosity of the supercooled liquid for the single-phase Al₈₅Y₈Ni₅Co₂ glassy ribbon (mechanically milled) and for the Al matrix composites with 50 vol.% and 30 vol.% glass reinforcement. Reprinted from [45], Copyright (2008), with permission from Springer Nature.

Figure 7

Differential scanning calorimetry scan for the Mg₆₅Cu₂₀Zn₅Y₁₀ metallic glass. Reprinted from [58], Copyright (2014), with permission from Elsevier.

Figure 8

X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns of the Mg₆₅Cu₂₀Zn₅Y₁₀ glass and Al + Mg₆₅Cu₂₀Zn₅Y₁₀ composites. Reprinted from [58], Copyright (2014), with permission from Elsevier.

Figure 9

Temperature and displacement versus time during spark plasma sintering (SPS) of the glassy Fe₆₆Cr₁₀Nb₅B₁₉ (a) and crystalline Fe₆₂Cr₁₀Nb₁₂B₁₆ (b) alloy powders. Black lines—temperature; red lines—displacement. Reprinted from [82]. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).

Figure 10

Microstructure of the spark plasma sintered composites obtained from (a) Al (coarse)–glassy Fe₆₆Cr₁₀Nb₅B₁₉, (b) Al (coarse)–crystalline Fe₆₂Cr₁₀Nb₁₂B₁₆ mixtures, (c) Al (fine)–glassy Fe₆₆Cr₁₀Nb₅B₁₉, (d) Al (fine)–crystalline Fe₆₂Cr₁₀Nb₁₂B₁₆ mixtures. (a,c,d) Micrographs of the polished cross-sections, SE images; (b) micrograph of the fracture surface, BSE image. Reprinted from [82]. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).

Figure 11

Schematic of the microstructures of aluminum matrix composites formed using a glassy (a,c) or a crystalline (b,d) alloy reinforcement. Reprinted from [82]. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).

Figure 11

Schematic of the microstructures of aluminum matrix composites formed using a glassy (a,c) or a crystalline (b,d) alloy reinforcement. Reprinted from [82]. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).

Figure 12

Transmission electron microscopy images of the interface in composites obtained via spark plasma sintering of CuCrZr alloy + 30 wt.% Cu₅₀Zr₄₃Al₇ metallic glass mixtures at 500 MPa at different temperatures: (a) 693 K and (b) 723 K. Reprinted from [88], Copyright (2022), with permission from Elsevier.

Figure 13

Microstructure of composites obtained from Al 2024 + 40 vol.% Ni₆₀Nb₄₀ mixtures: (a) as-hot-pressed state and (b) heat-treated state. Reprinted from [71], Copyright (2019), with permission from Elsevier.

Figure 14

(a) A micrograph showing a particle of the Fe_43.2Co_28.8B_19.2Si_4.8Nb₄ metallic glass in the matrix of Al 2024 alloy. The composite was heat-treated. (b) Maps of Al and Cu; the map of Cu shows its concentration at the interface. Reprinted from [78], Copyright (2020), with permission from Elsevier.

Figure 15

Microstructure of the hot-extruded composites obtained from Al 7075 + 8 vol.% Ti₅₂Cu₂₀Ni₁₇Al₁₁ mixtures milled for 10 h (a) and 50 h (b). Reprinted from [67], Copyright (2018), with permission from Elsevier.

Figure 16

XRD patterns of the Ti₅₂Cu₂₀Ni₁₇Al₁₁ metallic glass_, Al 7075 + 8 vol.% Ti₅₂Cu₂₀Ni₁₇Al₁₁ mixtures, hot-extruded matrix alloy, and composites obtained from the Al 7075 + 8 vol.% Ti₅₂Cu₂₀Ni₁₇Al₁₁ mixtures milled for 30 h and 50 h. Reprinted from [67], Copyright (2018), with permission from Elsevier.

Figure 17

Compressive yield strength–fracture strain data for Al and Al alloy matrix metallic glass (amorphous alloy)-reinforced composites: ■ Al + Ni₇₀Nb₃₀ [40]; ■ Al + Al₈₅Y₈Ni₅Co₂ [45]; ■ Al 5083 + Al₈₅Ni₁₀La₅ [41]; ■ Al 520.0 + Cu₅₄Zr₃₆Ti₁₀ [15]; ■ Al + Mg₅₈Cu_28.5Gd₁₁Ag_2.5 [60]; ■ Al + Mg₆₅Cu₂₀Zn₅Y₁₀ [58]; ■ Al 2024 + Fe₇₃Nb₅Ge₂P₁₀C₆B₄ [59]; ● Al + Fe₆₆Cr₁₀Nb₅B₁₉ [81]; ● Al-Si-Mg + Ni–Nb–Ta [35]; ● Al + Al-Cu-Ti [64]; ● Al 7075 + Zr₆₅Cu₁₈Ni₇Al₁₀ [65]; ● Al 7075 + Ti₄₈Zr_7.5Cu₃₉Fe_2.5Sn₂Si₁ [74]; □ Al 6061 + [(Fe_1/2Co_1/2)₇₅B₂₀Si₅]₉₆Nb₄ [54]; ● Al 7075 + Ti_55.5Cu_18.5Ni_17.5Al_8.5 [76]; ○ Al + Fe_50.1Co_35.1Nb_7.7B_4.3Si_2.8 [70]; ● AlSi10Mg + Ni₆₀Nb₂₀Ta₂₀ [66]; ✚ Al + Al₆₅Cu_16.5Ti_18.5 [68]; ●, ● Al 7075 + Ti₅₂Cu₂₀Ni₁₇Al₁₁ [67]; ▲, ▲ Al 2024 + Ni₆₀Nb₄₀ [71]; ▲, ▲, ▲ Al + Cu₄₃Zr₄₃Al₇Ag₇ [62]; ▲ Al + Zr₄₈Cu₃₆Ag₈Al₈ [69]; ● Al + Fe₇₄Mo₄P₁₀C_7.5B_2.5Si₂ [61].

Figure 18

Tensile yield strength–elongation data for Al and Al alloy matrix composites: ■ Al + Ni₆₀Nb₄₀ [55]; ■ Al-Zn-Ca + Co₄₈Cr₁₅Mo₁₄C₁₅B₆Tm₂ [73]; ■, ■ Al 2024 + Fe_49.9Co_35.1Nb_7.7B_4.5Si_2.8 [57]; ■ Al + Al₈₄Gd₆Ni₇Co₃ [56]; ■ Al + Zr₄₈Cu₃₆Ag₈Al₈ [69].

Figure 19

(a) Engineering stress–strain curves of composites obtained via SPS of CuCrZr alloy + 24 wt.% Cu₅₀Zr₄₃Al₇ metallic glass mixtures at 693 K and different pressures; (b) variation in the electrical conductivity of the composites with the sintering pressure. Reprinted from [88], Copyright (2022), with permission from Elsevier.