Surface Degradation Behavior of Bulk Metallic Glasses and High Entropy Alloys

Abstract

In this study, the surface degradation behavior was studied for typical examples from bulk metallic glasses (BMGs), metallic glass composites (MGCs) and high entropy alloys (HEAs) alloy systems that are of scientific and commercial interest. The corrosion and wear behavior of two Zr-based bulk metallic glasses, Zr41.2Cu12.5Ni10Ti13.8Be22.5 and Zr57Cu15.4Ni12.6Al10Nb5, were evaluated in as-cast and thermally relaxed states. Significant improvement in corrosion rate, wear behavior, and friction coefficient was seen for both the alloys after thermal relaxation. Fully amorphous structure was retained with thermal relaxation below the glass transition temperature. This improvement in surface properties was explained by annihilation of free volume, the atomic scale defects in amorphous metals resulting from kinetic freezing. Recently developed MGCs, with in situ crystalline ductile phase, demonstrate a combination of mechanical properties and fracture behavior unseen in known structural metals. The composites showed higher wear rates but lower coefficient of friction compared to monolithic amorphous glasses. No tribolayer formation was seen for the composites in sharp contrast to that of the monolithic metallic glasses. Corrosion was evaluated by open circuit potential (OCP) analysis and potentiodynamic polarization. Site-specific corrosion behavior was studied by scanning vibration electrode technique (SVET) to identify formation of galvanic couples. Scanning kelvin probe microscope was used to map elecropositivity difference between the phases and linked to wear/corrosion behavior. Phases with higher elecropositivity were more susceptible to surface degradation. Wear and corrosion synergy in marine environment was evaluated for two high entropy alloys (HEAs), CoCrFeMnNi and Al0.1CoCrFeNi. Between the two alloys, Al0.1CoCrFeNi showed better wear resistance compared to CoCrFeMnNi in dry and marine conditions due to quicker passivation, a higher magnitude of polarization resistance and significantly larger pitting resistance.