Microstructure and Properties of Vacuum Hot-Pressing SiC/ Ti-Cu-Ni-Sn Bulk Metallic Glass Composites

In the present study, Ti50Cu28Ni15Sn7 metallic glass and its composite powders reinforced with 4~12 vol% of SiC additions were successfully prepared by mechanical alloying. The as-milled Ti50Cu28Ni15Sn7 and composite powders were then consolidated by vacuum hot pressing into disc compacts with a 10 mm diameter and thickness of 2 mm. The structure of the as-milled powders and consolidated compacts was characterized by X-ray diffraction. While the thermal stability was examined by differential scanning calorimeter. In addition, the mechanical property of the consolidated bulk metallic glass and its composite was evaluated by Vickers microhardness tests. In the ball-milled composites, initial SiC particles were homogeneously dispersed in the Ti-based alloy glassy matrix. The presence of SiC particles did not dramatically change the thermal stability of Ti50Cu28Ni15Sn7 glassy powders. BMG composite with submicron SiC particles homogeneously embedded in a highly dense nanocrystalline/amorphous matrix was successfully prepared. A significant hardness increase with SiC additions was noticed for consolidated composite compacts.