Methods for color and texture control of metallic glasses by the combination of blasting and oxidization

Abstract

Methods of altering the surface of a metallic glass are provided. The methods include blasting and oxidation of a metallic glass surface, blasting a metallic glass surface using multiple shot media sizes, and thermal spray blasting a metallic glass surface with controlled cooling.

1 . A method of altering a surface of a metallic glass, the method comprising:
 blasting the surface of the metallic glass with a shot media to form a porous blasted metallic glass surface having an oxidized layer having a first thickness;   oxidizing the porous blasted metallic glass surface at an elevated temperature to form an oxidized metallic glass surface having an oxidized layer with a second thickness larger than the first thickness.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising
 blasting the oxidized metallic glass surface to form a modified metallic glass surface; and   oxidizing the modified metallic glass surface to change color and texture of the modified metallic glass surface.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the shot media comprises ZrO 2 . 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the shot media has sizes from 10 μm to 100 μm. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the porous blasted metallic glass surface contains fewer surface features than the surface of the metallic glass before blasting. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the oxidized metallic glass surface has a roughness from 5 μm to 10 μm. 
     
     
         7 . A method of altering a surface of a metallic glass, the method comprising:
 blasting the surface of the metallic glass with a large shot media having an average diameter from 100 μm to 2000 μm;   blasting the surface of the metallic glass with a fine shot media having an average diameter from 10 μm to 100 μm; and   oxidizing the blasted surface of the metallic glass to form an oxidized metallic glass surface.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the large shot media comprises a polymer base and a protruded sharp ceramic vertex, and the fine shot media comprises fine round ceramic particles. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein blasting with the large shot media and blasting with the fine shot media is simultaneous. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the oxidized metallic glass surface has a roughness from 2 μm to 10 μm. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein a processing time of blasting with large shot media and fine shot media, and oxidizing, is greater than 3000 seconds. 
     
     
         12 . A method of treating a surface of a metallic glass, the method comprising:
 thermal spray blasting the surface of the metallic glass; and   simultaneously with the thermal spray blasting, spray cooling the surface of the metallic glass, to form an oxide layer on the surface of the metallic glass.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein a temperature of the surface of the metallic glass is further controlled using a temperature controlled sample holder. 
     
     
         14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the thermal spray blasting proceeds for less than 2 minutes. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the thermal spray is produced using a high velocity oxygen fuel (HVOF) thermal spray system. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the thermal spray comprises a blasting media for blasting of the surface of the metallic glass. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the blasting media comprises ZrO 2  media. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  17 , wherein the blasting media has sizes varying from 10-100 μm. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising blasting the surface of the metallic glass with a blasting media to control surface smoothness, porosity, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         21 . The metallic glass of  claim 12 , wherein the oxidized surface includes a non-uniform oxidized surface that exhibits surface variations to a depth of about 5-20 μm. 
     
     
         22 .- 29 . (canceled)