Enhanced Wear Resistance of Zr-Based Bulk Metallic Glass by Thermal Oxidation Treatment

Abstract

Enhancement of surface properties such as wear resistance of Zr-based bulk metallic glasses (BMGs) is important for many applications of the materials. In this paper, the effect of thermal oxidation on the tribological behavior of a Zr-Ti-Cu-Al-Y BMG was studied. It is found that oxidation treatment greatly improves the wear resistance of the BMG, which is ascribed to the formation of a layer of oxidized scale. This result is beneficial for the improvement of surface properties and further application of the Zr-based BMGs.

Fig. 2 The three-dimensional profiles of the wear scars on (a) the as-cast and (b) oxidized (Zr_0.5Ti_0.02Cu_0.38Al_0.1)₉₈Y₂ and (c) two-dimensional profiles of the wear scars.