Transition from Plasticity to Brittleness in Cu-Zr-Based Bulk Metallic Glasses

Abstract

The effects of addition of Al and Ag on the mechanical properties of the Cu₅₀Zr₅₀ alloy are investigated. It is found that the plasticity of the Cu-Zr-based BMGs decreases as the content of the alloying elements of Al and Ag increases. A clear transition from plasticity to brittleness occurs for the Cu-Zr-based BMGs with increasing the content of Al and Ag. Combining with previous work on the plasticity or brittleness of the Cu-Zr-based BMGs, the role of the atomic binding force between the solute and solvent atoms is suggested to understand the transition from plasticity to brittleness for the Cu-Zr-based BMGs.