Enhanced wear resistance of Zr-based bulk metallic glass by thermal oxidation treatment

Abstract

Enhancement of surface properties such as wear resistance of Zr-based bulk metallic glasses (BMGs) is important for many applications of the materials. In this paper, the effect of thermal oxidation on the tribological behavior of a Zr-Ti-Cu-Al-Y BMG was studied. It is found that oxidation treatment greatly improves the wear resistance of the BMG, which is ascribed to the formation of a layer of oxidized scale. This result is beneficial for the improvement of surface properties and further application of the Zr-based BMGs.