Dynamic and quasi-static mechanical properties of fibre-reinforced metallic glass at different temperatures

We have investigated the dynamic and quasi-static mechanical properties of a tungsten fibre-reinforced Zr41.25Ti13.75Ni10Cu12.5Be22.5 bulk metallic glass composite (W/BMG) at temperatures ranging from 77 to 473 K. It was found that the yield stress and elastic modulus of the composite increase while strain-to-failure decreases with decreasing temperature. Tests under uniaxial dynamic compression showed that the W/BMG has a higher yield stress than under quasi-static compression. It was shown that yielding of the composite material is dominated by a shear banding process in the glass matrix, which is essentially a viscous flow as a consequence of local adiabatic heating. The interval between the nominal testing temperature and the temperature at which shear bands initiate is a key factor affecting the shear banding process, rendering the properties of the W/BMG very sensitive to temperature.