Unusual plasticity of the particulate-reinforced Cu-Zr-based bulk metallic glass composites

We report a particulate-reinforced bulk metallic glass composite with high strength and unusual plasticity, which consists of Ta particles homogenously distributed in Cu₃₆Zr₄₈Al₈Ag₈ glassy matrix. The glassy matrix remains amorphous even after adding up to 15 vol.% of Ta particles. A largest plastic strain of up to 31% was obtained for the 10% Ta-containing composite. Ta particles seed the initiation of multiple shear bands and block the shear band propagation, leading to a net-like homogeneous distribution of the shear bands.