Mg-Y-Cu Bulk Nanocrystalline Matrix Composites Containing WC Particles

The preparation of Mg49Y15Cu36 metallic glass composite powders was accomplished by mechanical alloying of pure Mg, Y, Cu, and WC powder mixture after 10 h milling. In the ball-milled composites, initial WC particles were homogeneously dispersed in the Mg-based alloy glassy matrix. The metallic glass composites powders were found to exhibit a large supercooled liquid region before crystallization. Bulk metallic glass composites were formed by vacuum hot pressing the as-milled WC/ Mg49Y15Cu36 metallic glass composite powders at 473 K in the pressure range of 0.72-1.20 GPa. BMG composite with submicron WC particles homogeneously embedded in a highly dense nanocrystalline/amorphous matrix was successfully prepared under pressure of 1.20 GPa. It was found that the applied pressure during consolidation could enhance the thermal stability and promotes nanocrystallization of WC/ Mg49Y15Cu36 BMG composites.