Enhancing Fracture Toughness, Strength and Ductility of Zr58.75Cu21.15Fe4.7Al9.4Nb6 Bulk Metallic Glass via Ultrasound Excitation Technique

The inherent brittleness and limited toughness of bulk metallic glasses (BMGs) remain critical challenges for their application as structural engineering materials. In this study, ultrasonic excitation was applied to Zr58.75Cu21.15Fe4.7Al9.4Nb6 BMG with the aim of enhancing its mechanical performance. The results reveal that ultrasonic treatment significantly increases the fracture toughness by approximately 28% and induces a pronounced plastic deformation plateau following yielding. This improvement in both strength and ductility is attributed to the formation of nanoscale crystalline phases and ultrasound-induced phase separation within the amorphous matrix, which collectively promote shear band multiplication and inhibit crack propagation.