Abstract
We report a particulate-reinforced bulk metallic glass composite with high strength and unusual plasticity, which consists of Ta particles homogenously distributed in Cu36Zr48Al8Ag8 glassy matrix. The glassy matrix remains amorphous even after adding up to 15 vol.% of Ta particles. A largest plastic strain of up to 31% was obtained for the 10% Ta-containing composite. Ta particles seed the initiation of multiple shear bands and block the shear band propagation, leading to a net-like homogeneous distribution of the shear bands.
