Abstract: In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, an alloy or other composite material is provided formed of a bulk metallic glass matrix with a microstructure of crystalline metal particles. The alloy preferably has a composition of (XaNibCuc)100?d?cYdAlc, wherein the sum of a, b and c equals 100, wherein 40?a?80, 0?b?35, 0?c?40, 4?d?30, and 0?e?20, and wherein preferably X is composed of an early transition metal and preferably Y is composed of a refractory body-centered cubic early transition metal. A preferred embodiment of the invention also provides a method of producing an alloy composed of two or more phases at ambient temperature. The method includes the steps of providing a metastable crystalline phase composed of at least two elements, heating the metastable crystalline phase together with at least one additional element to form a liquid, casting the liquid, and cooling the liquid to form the alloy.

Abstract: An alloy is described that is capable of forming a metallic glass at moderate cooling rates and exhibits large plastic flow at ambient temperature. Preferably, the alloy has a composition of (Zr, Hf)a TabTicCudNieAlf, where the composition ranges (in atomic percent) are 45≦a≦70, 3≦b≦7.5, 0≦c≦4, 3≦b+c≦10, 10≦d≦30, 0≦e≦20, 10≦d+e≦35, and 5≦f≦15. The alloy may be cast into a bulk solid with disordered atomic-scale structure, i.e., a metallic glass, by a variety of techniques including copper mold die casting and planar flow casting. The as-cast amorphous solid has good ductility while retaining all of the characteristic features of known metallic glasses, including a distinct glass transition, a supercooled liquid region, and an absence of long-range atomic order. The alloy may be used to form a composite structure including quasi-crystals embedded in an amorphous matrix.

Abstract: An alloy is described that is capable of forming a metallic glass at moderate cooling rates and exhibits large plastic flow at ambient temperature. Preferably, the alloy has a composition of (Zr, Hf)a TabTicCudNieAlf, where the composition ranges (in atomic percent) are 45≦a≦70, 3≦b≦7.5, 0≦c≦4, 3≦b+c≦10, 10≦d≦30, 0≦e≦20, 10≦d+e≦35, and 5≦f≦15. The alloy may be cast into a bulk solid with disordered atomic-scale structure, i.e., a metallic glass, by a variety of techniques including copper mold die casting and planar flow casting. The as-cast amorphous solid has good ductility while retaining all of the characteristic features of known metallic glasses, including a distinct glass transition, a supercooled liquid region, and an absence of long-range atomic order. The alloy may be used to form a composite structure including quasi-crystals embedded in an amorphous matrix.