The thermal stability and glass forming ability (GFA) of Zr35-xTi30Cu7.5Be27.5Agx (x = 0-10) alloys were studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and ultrasonic techniques. We found that the addition of 1 at.% Ag can considerably enhance the GFA as indicated by an increase in the critical glass dimension from 15 mm in the Zr35Ti30Cu7.5Be27.5 alloy to 20 mm in the Zr34Ti30Cu7.5Be27.5Ag1 alloy. However, with the addition of more Ag the supercooled liquid region (△Tx) and y parameter (defined as Tx/(Tg+Tl)) drastically decreased from 155 K and 0.436 to 76 K and 0.363, respectively, resulting in a decrease in the GFA. Additionally, the elastic constant (the ratio of shear modulus to bulk modulus or Poisson's ratio) was also used as a gauge to evaluate the GFA in Zr35-xTi30Cu7.5Be27.5Agx alloys.
Deformation of the bulk metallic glasses (BMGs) and the creation and propagation of the shear bands are closely interconnected.Shearing force was loaded on Zr 41.2 Ti 13.8 Cu 12.5 Ni 10.0 Be 22.5 (Vit.1) BMGs by cutting during the turning of the BMG rod.The temperature rise of alloy on the shear bands was calculated and the result showed that it could reach the temperature of the super-cooled liquid zone or exceed the melting point.The temperature rise caused viscous fluid flow and brought about the deformation of BMGs.This suggested that the deformation of BMGs was derived,at least to some extent,from the adiabatic shear temperature rise.
