Consolidation of Ni60Nb40 Metallic Glass Strips into Metal Matrix Composites

Abstract

ABSTRACTTo fully utilize the promising mechanical properties of metallic glasses, consolidation techniques need to be developed to incorporate them into large bulk forms. This paper describes preliminary results on the consolidation of Ni60Nb40 metallic glass strips into an aluminum alloy matrix. The consolidation was achieved without the degradation of the metallic glass by employing a superplastic aluminum alloy as the matrix material. The consolidations were accomplished at a superplastic forming temperature compatible with the metal matrix material and sufficiently below the critical 650°C crystallization temperature of the Ni60Nb40 metallic glass. Initial studies employed an atuminum − 5% calcium − 5% zinc alloy as the metal matrix material.