Method For Improving The Plastic Ductility Of High-Strength Molded Bodies From Bulk Metallic Glasses And Molded Bodies So Produced

Abstract

Disclosed is a method for improving the plastic ductility of high-strength molded bodies from bulk metallic glasses from Zr, Ti and Hf base alloys and molded bodies so produced. An object is to find ways to substantially increase the plasticity and toughness of bulk metallic glasses produced on the basis of early transition metals (Zr, Ti, Hf) which is comparatively low as compared to their very high strength, thereby further increasing their potential applicability as materials for airplane structures. Hydrogen in defined ranges of concentration is introduced into the molded bodies in a concentration below the brittle hydride formation concentration. The molded bodies produced comprise hydrogen in a homogenous distribution in the amorphous short-range order structure and/or in the form of hydrogen-induced local enrichment of ductile alloy components and/or in the form of hydrogen-induced precipitations of ductile nanocrystalline phases while excluding brittle hydrides.

1 . Method for improving the plastic deformability of high-strength molded objects of solid, metallic glasses from basic zirconium, titanium and hafnium alloys, comprising introducing hydrogen into the molded objects at a concentration below that at which brittle hydrides are formed.  
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising introducing the hydrogen into the molded object by means of electrochemically charging in an aqueous electrolyte or by means of a gas phase reaction.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the electrochemical charging is carried out at a temperature ranging from 15° C. to 80° C.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the gas-phase treatment is carried out at a temperature of at least 15° C. up to a temperature of 20° K above the glass transition temperature of the alloy of the respective molded object.  
   
   
       5 . Molded objects, produced according to one of the  claims 1  to  4 , wherein the molded objects comprise hydrogen, which is distributed homogeneously in the amorphous short-range order structure and/or in the form of hydrogen-induced local accumulations of ductile alloying components and/or in the form of hydrogen-induced precipitation of ductile, nanocrystalline phases with exclusion of brittle hydrides.  
   
   
       6 . The molded objects of  claim 5 , wherein the hydrogen is present at a concentration ranging from 20 to 1500 ppm by weight.  
   
   
       7 . The molded objects of  claim 5 , wherein the hydrogen is present at a concentration ranging from 20 to 1000 ppm by weight.  
   
   
       8 . The molded objects of  claim 5 , wherein the hydrogen is present at a concentration ranging from 20 to 800 ppm by weight.  
   
   
       9 . The molded objects of  claim 5 , wherein the hydrogen is present in beryllium-containing molded objects at a concentration ranging from 20 to 650 ppm by weight.