Formation and Compression Behavior of Two-Phase Bulk Metallic Glasses with a Minor Addition of Aluminum

A remarkable enhancement in room-temperature compressive deformability is realized by the minor-addition of 1.5 at.% Al in ZrTi-based bulk metallic glass. Two amorphous phases are observed by transmission electron microscopy in the Al-containing alloys and this explains the improvement of compression deformability. The studies suggest that phase separation might occur in glass forming alloys with a negative enthalpy of mixing.