The effect of cryogenic treatment on the microstructure and mechanical properties of Cu46Zr46Al8 bulk metallic glass matrix composites

The influence of cryogenic treatment (CT) on the microstructure and mechanical properties of Cu46Zr46Al8 glassy matrix composite fabricated by the process copper of mould suction casting. The distribution and morphology of test samples of CuZr phase changed under CT. After CT, the second phase is distributed more homogenously, and the morphology was transformed from dendrites to plates. This change in the microstructure improved the mechanical properties of the composite. Although compression fracture was still the brittle mode, the compression fracture strength was improved greatly after CT. Due to the morphological changes, the microhardness was increased about 18.55% when the treatment time was 72 h.