Abstract: A reinforcement-containing metal-matrix composite material is formed by dispersing pieces of reinforcement material throughout a melt of a bulk-solidifying amorphous metal and solidifying the mixture at a sufficiently high rate that the solid metal matrix is amorphous. Dispersing is typically accomplished either by melting the metal and mixing the pieces of reinforcement material into the melt, or by providing a mass of pieces of the reinforcement material and infiltration of the molten amorphous metal into the mass. The metal preferably has a composition of about that of a eutectic composition, and most preferably has a composition, in atomic percent, of from about 45 to about 67 percent total of zirconium plus titanium, from about 10 to about 35 percent beryllium, and from about 10 to about 38 percent total of copper plus nickel.

Abstract: A diamond-containing metal-matrix composite material is formed by dispersing pieces of diamond throughout a melt of a bulk-solidifying amorphous metal and solidifying the mixture. The mixture may then be remelted and resolidified at a rate sufficiently high that the metal matrix retains an amorphous structure upon cooling. The metal preferably has a composition of about that of a eutectic composition, and most preferably has a composition, in atomic percent, of from about 45 to about 67 percent total of zirconium plus titanium, from about 10 to about 35 percent beryllium, and from about 10 to about 98 percent total of copper plus nickel. The diamond is preferably low-grade or artificial diamond.

Abstract: Two pieces of metal are joined together using an amorphous metallic joining element. In the joining operation, the joining element is placed between the two pieces to be joined. The joining element and adjacent regions of the pieces being joined are given a joining processing sequence of heating to a joining temperature, forcing the two pieces together for a period of time, and cooling. The joining element has a composition that is amorphous after the processing is complete. The joining element composition is also selected such that, after interdiffusion of elements from the pieces being joined into the joining element during processing, the resulting composition is amorphous after cooling.