Understanding of martensitic (TiCu)-based bulk metallic glasses through deformation behavior of a binary Ti50 Cu50 martensitic alloy

Abstract

A binary Ti50 Cu50 martensitic alloy having similar atomic clusters to (TiCu)-based martensitic bulk metallic glasses presents a large plastic strain of 18.04% with high fracture strength of 1705 MPa. Detailed microstructural investigations point out that martensite embedded in γ-TiCu matrix is effective to dissipate localization of the shear stress thus leading to rotational propagation, interaction, and multiplication of the shear bands. Furthermore, the propagation of microcracks formed by local stress transition during deformation is hindered by the martensite. © 2008 American Institute of Physics.