Abstract Scope |
Transitioning bulk metallic glass (BMG) research into real-world applications requires the use of commercial manufacturing equipment to produce feedstock materials. Large-scale production can introduce impurities (such as oxygen, carbon, iron, tin, etc.) into the melt and create compositions of BMGs that are off-nominal in composition. Understanding the sensitivity in the glass forming ability and mechanical properties across different BMG compositions is critical towards their infusion into applications like gears, flexures, mechanisms, robotics, actuators, brackets, and inserts. In this work, we look at three BMG alloys of commercial interest; a titanium-zirconium BMG with excellent glass forming ability, a titanium-based BMG with low density, and a copper-zirconium BMG with excellent wear resistance. Each alloy was made commercially with varying degrees of impurities introduced during manufacturing and the properties were compared with laboratory-grade material and with mixtures of the commercial alloy with other, strategic alloys. Control over the resulting properties is demonstrated. |