Glass formation ability and physical properties of Fe-B-Y bulk metallic glass alloys with different Nb contents

This study investigated the effects of Nb addition on the glass formation ability, mechanical properties, and microstructural evolution of Fe-Y-B bulk metallic glass (BMG) alloys. The glass formation ability of the alloys with different Nb contents was evaluated by means of X-ray diffraction and differential scanning calorimetry. The mechanical properties of the various BMGs were examined using a universal testing machine (MTS 810) under quasi-static strain rates of 10-3-10-1 s-1. The high strain rate mechanical properties of the BMGs were tested using a split Hopkinson pressure bar system under strain rates of 2 × 103 to 4 × 103 s-1. Finally, the microstructures of the fracture surfaces of the alloys tested at different strain rates were observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM).