Abrasive Wear Resistance of Bulk Metallic Glasses

Abstract

AbstractThis paper reviews work on the wear of metallic glasses in general, as well as reporting recent results on the abrasive wear of bulk metallic glasses. The distinctive mechanical properties of metallic glasses make their wear resistance of fundamental interest. Metallic glasses, and the partially or fully crystalline materials derived from them, can have very good resistance to sliding and abrasive wear. Standard wear laws are followed, with behaviour similar to that of conventional hardened alloys. The microhardness and abrasive wear resistance are measured for four bulk metallic glasses (based on La, Mg, Pd or Zr). The hardness and wear resistance correlate well with the Young's modulus of the glass.