Strong and Light Metal Matrix Composites Reinforced with Metallic Glasses

Light-weight materials of advanced performance are now experiencing global interest due to the growing importance of environmental issues and energy saving strategies. We have recently developed novel light weight composites with improved engineering properties using light alloy metal matrices with micro and nanometer scale metallic glass particles as reinforcements. The metallic glass particle dispersions serve both as binder and as a reinforcement in Mg-based and Al based industrial alloys, resulting in composites with full density and high mechanical properties. This novelty uses advantageously the unique property of metallic glass particles to become very soft above their glass transition temperatures (Tg) allowing them to act as a soft binder phase and remove porosity during hot compaction together with light alloy powders. After compaction to full density and cooling to below Tg and down to room temperature, the same glassy particles become the hard reinforcement phase due to their 2% elastic strain range, resulting in composite materials with significantly improved mechanical strength.