Bulk Metallic Glasses and Nanostructured Materials

Abstract

There is always a requirement for materials having higher performance than the existing one without any extra cost or even paying less. Demands ofhigh performance materials are increasing to improve the efficiency oftheproducts and produce micro-components for various applications. The polycrystalline materials prepared in conventional melting casting route have almost reached to its highest perfor-mance level. Hence, newerprocessing techniques are being adopted to develop newer materials so that the component should have smooth surface finish, minimum shrinkage etc. Excellent fillability and imprintability are prime requir-ements for the production of good quality micro-precision parts. In this regard, metallic glasses have achieved much attention due to its superior properties compared to the crystalline materials of same composition. The metallic glass can be prepared through rapid solidification techni-que where liquid metal can be poured on the surface of a rapidly rotating Cu-drum. In this process the cooling rate of the materials become 106K/s and the materials are obtai-ned in the form of about 30p,m thick ribbon, which is amorphous in nature. The isotropic nature of the material becomes immediate curiosity for functional applications, in particular Fe, Co and Ni based materials for magnetic application.