Enhanced wear resistivity of a Zr-based bulk metallic glass processed by high-pressure torsion under reciprocating dry conditions

Wear properties of bulk metallic glasses (BMGs) are important for industrial applications as much as strength and ductility. Free volume of BMGs is a significant factor which decides wear mechanism and resistance. Increased free volume of a Zr₅₅Al₁₀Ni₅Cu₃₀ BMG processed by high-pressure torsion (HPT) affected wear resistance under dry reciprocating conditions. Two- and three-body abrasive wear as well as the delamination of oxide layers simultaneously operated during the wear tests of both as-cast and HPT-processed BMG (HPT-BMG). However, the HPT- BMG had a larger area of the oxide layers on a worn surface compared to the as-cast BMG at the early stage of the wear tests. The increased free volume by the HPT process resulted in ductile plastic deformation, prohibited crack propagation, and delayed delamination of the oxide layers. Therefore, the HPT-BMG had thicker oxide layers, which acted as an adequate protection and increased wear properties of the Zr-based BMG.