Improving the strength and the toughness of Mg-based bulk metallic glass by Bridgman solidification

The Mg-based bulk metallic glass composites with a composition of Mg75Cu13.33Y6.67Zn5 were synthesized by the copper-mould casting and the Bridgman solidification. Well-developed and homogeneously-distributed flake-shape precipitates were obtained in the in situ bulk metallic glass matrix composites by the Bridgman solidification. The glass composite obtained exhibits the ultimate strength of 1037 MPa and fracture plastic strain of 19% of the composite, which is attributed to the homogeneous dispersion of ductile phase in the glass matrix. As compared to the copper-mould casting method, the Bridgman solidification is more effective to generate the homogeneous in situ Mg-based bulk metallic glass composites.