Impact of microstructural inhomogenities on the ductility of bulk metallic glasses

To circumvent the limited ductility of bulk metallic glasses (BMGs), heterogeneous materials with glassy matrix and different type and length-scale of heterogeneities (micrometer-sized second phase particles or fibers, nanocrystals in a glassy matrix, phase separated regions, variations in short-range order by clustering) have been developed in order to control the mechanical properties. As example, recent results obtained for Cu- and Ti-base structurally imhomogeneous bulk metallic glasses will be presented. This type of clustered glasses is able to achieve high strength together with pronounced work hardening and large ductility by controlling the instabilities otherwise responsible for early failure. We emphasize the possibilities to manipulate such spatially inhomogeneous glassy structures based on martensitic alloys in favor of either strength and ductility, or a combination of both and also discuss the acquired ability to synthesize such M-glasses in bulk form through inexpensive processing routes.