Introduction of Sulfur into the (Zr₃Ti)(NiCu) System—Characterization of a New Group of Zr Based BMG Containing Sulfur

The usage of the element sulfur in Bulk Metallic Glass (BMG) synthesis was recently introduced by Kuball et al. and lead to increased research interest into these new family of BMG [1]. Here we report on the influence of sulfur on the A₂B type intermetallic composition (Zr₅₀Ti_16.6Ni_18.3Cu₁₅) that was characterized by synchrotron diffraction of copper mold cast specimen to determine crystalline phases around the induced primary crystallization change. The addition enables the bulk glass forming ability (GFA) of up to 6 mm 2 at % to 3 at% sulfur. The structure of amorphous solid and liquid as well as the devitrification behavior and the melting behavior was also studied by heating and melting of the samples in an in-situ synchrotron wide angle scattering experiment (WAXS) experiment utilizing a LINKAM THMS 600 furnace and a high temperature LINKAM TS1500 furnace. The study is accompanied by investigations of primary phase and nucleation mechanism by electron back scattering diffraction and scanning transmission electron microscopy where the nucleation behavior and phase sequence upon initial crystallization is explored in-depth.<br/>For the best glass former of the system the mechanical properties were investigated in terms of three-point beam bending determining the offset yield strength and breaking elongation of the alloy.<br/>[1] A. Kuball, O. Gross, B. Bochtler, and R. Busch, “Sulfur-bearing metallic glasses: A new family of bulk glass-forming alloys,” <i>Scr. Mater.</i>, 2018.