Structural and mechanical properties of a Cu-based bulk metallic glass with two oxygen levels

In this work, a new method to decrease the oxygen content in BMGs was proposed. Cu45Zr48Al7 bulk metallic glasses (BMGs) with two oxygen levels were prepared by adjusting the preparation process. The as-prepared Cu45Zr48Al7 BMG containing lower oxygen concentration exhibits larger plastic deformation than that containing higher level of oxygen. The fracture surface was studied by SEM to reveal the fracture mechanism. The effect of oxygen on the local atomic structure of Cu45Zr48Al7 BMGs was studied by TEM. From the present work, the effects of oxygen on the structural and mechanical properties of Cu45Zr48Al7 BMGs were clearly revealed.