Effects of Ta addition on the microstructure and mechanical properties of Ti₄₀Zr₂₅Ni₈Cu₉Be₁₈ amorphous alloy

The effects of Ta addition on the microstructure and mechanical properties of Ti₄₀Zr₂₅Ni₈Cu₉Be₁₈ bulk amorphous alloy were investigated by using X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scan electron microscopy (SEM) and compressive testing. As a result, the addition of Ta (0-8at%) prompted the successive precipitation of quasicrystalline phase, CuTi₂ phase and bcc β-Ti solid solution. Additionally, the addition of less Ta content (3at%-5at%) led to the formation of amorphous matrix/nanoquasicrystal/CuTi₂ complex phase structure; and nanoquasicrystals, as reinforcement precipitates, improved the fracture strength of Ti-Zr-Ni-Cu-Be-Ta alloys, which led to the high compressive fracture strength 1856 MPa of Ta5 alloy. With increasing Ta content (5at%-8at%), although the ductile dendritic β-Ti solid solution was precipitated, the strength and plasticity decreased to a great extent resulting from the growth of quasicrystalline phase and CuTi₂ phase.