Alloys exhibiting spinodal glass matrix microconstituents structure and deformation mechanisms

Abstract

An alloy composition comprising iron present in the range of 49 atomic percent (at %) to 65 at %, nickel present in the range of 10.0 at % to 16.5 at %, cobalt optionally present in the range of 0.1 at % to 12 at %, boron present in the range of 12.5 at % to 16.5 at %, silicon optionally present in the range of 0.1 at % to 8.0 at %, carbon optionally present in the range of 2 at % to 5 at %, chromium optionally present in the range of 2.5 at % to 13.35 at %, and niobium optionally present in the range of 1.5 at % to 2.5 at %, wherein the alloy composition exhibits spinodal glass matrix microconstituents when cooled at a rate in the range of 10 3 K/s to 10 4 K/s and develops a number of shear bands per linear meter in the range of greater than 1.1×10 2 m −1 to 10 7 m −1 upon application of a tensile force applied at a rate of 0.001 s −1 .

1 . An alloy composition comprising:
 iron present in the range of 49 atomic percent (at %) to 65 at %,   nickel present in the range of 10 at % to 16.5 at %,   cobalt optionally present in the range of 0.1 at % to 12 at %,   boron present in the range of 12.5 at % to 16.5 at %,   silicon optionally present in the range of 0.1 at % to 8.0 at %,   carbon optionally present in the range of 2 at % to 5 at %,   chromium optionally present in the range of 2.5 at % to 13.35 at %, and   niobium optionally present in the range of 1.5 at % to 2.5 at %,   wherein said alloy composition exhibits spinodal glass matrix microconstituents when cooled at a rate in the range of 10 3 K/s to 10 4 K/s and develops a number of shear bands per linear meter in the range of greater than 1.1×10 2  m −1  to 10 7  m −1  upon application of a tensile force applied at a rate of 0.001 s −1 .   
     
     
         2 . The alloy composition of  claim 1 , wherein said composition consists essentially of iron, nickel, boron, silicon and one or more of the following cobalt, chromium, carbon and niobium. 
     
     
         3 . The alloy composition of  claim 1 , wherein said composition consists essentially of iron, nickel, boron, silicon and chromium. 
     
     
         4 . The alloy composition of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 iron present in the range of 49 at % to 65 at %,   nickel present in the range of 14.5 at % to 16.5 at %,   cobalt present in the range of 2.5 at % to 12 at %,   boron present in the range of 12.5 at % to 16.5 at %,   silicon present in the range of 0.5 at % to 8.0 at %,   carbon optionally present in the range of 2 at % to 5 at %,   chromium optionally present in the range of 2.5 at % to 13.35 at %, and   niobium optionally present in the range of 1.5 at % to 2.5 at %.   
     
     
         5 . The alloy composition of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 iron present in the range of 53 at % to 62 at %,   nickel present in the range of 15.5 at % to 16.5 at %,   cobalt present in the range of 4.0 at % to 10 at %,   boron present in the range of 12 at % to 16 at %,   carbon present in the range of 4.5 at % to 4.6 at %, and   silicon present in the range of 0.4 at % to 0.5 at %.   
     
     
         6 . The alloy composition of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 iron present in the range of 51 at % to 65 at %,   nickel present in the range of 16.5 at %,   cobalt present in the range of 3 at % to 12 at %,   boron present in the range of 15 at % to 16.5 at %, and   silicon present in the range of 0.4 at % to 4 at %.   
     
     
         7 . The alloy composition of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 iron present in the range of 49 at % to 61 at %,   nickel present in the range of 14.5 at % to 16 at %,   cobalt present in the range of 2.5 at % to 12 at %,   boron present in the range of 13 at % to 16 at %,   silicon present in the range of 3 at % to 8 at %, and   chromium present in the range of 2.5 at % to 3 at %.   
     
     
         8 . The alloy composition of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 iron present in the range of 57 at % to 60 at %,   nickel present in the range of 14.5 at % to 15.5 at %,   cobalt present in the range of 2.5 at % to 3 at %,   boron present in the range of 13 at % to 14 at %,   silicon present in the range of 3.5 at % to 8 at %,   chromium present in the range of 2.5 at % to 3 at %, and   niobium optionally present at 2 at %.   
     
     
         9 . The alloy composition of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 iron present in the range of 52 at % to 65 at %,   nickel present in the range of 10 at % to 16.5 at %,   boron present in the range of 13 at % to 15 at %,   silicon present in the range of 0.4 at % to 0.5 at %, and   chromium present in the range of 3 at % to 13.35 at %.   
     
     
         10 . The alloy composition of  claim 1 , wherein said spinodal glass matrix microconstituents include crystalline or semi-crystalline clusters having a size in the range of 1 nm to 15 nm in thickness and 2 nm to 60 nm in length. 
     
     
         11 . The alloy composition of  claim 1 , wherein said alloy composition exhibits a glass to crystalline onset to peak in the range of 395° C. to 576° C., when measured at a rate of 10° C./min. 
     
     
         12 . The alloy composition of  claim 1 , wherein said alloy composition exhibits a primary onset glass transition temperature in the range of 395° C. to 505° C. and a primary peak glass transition temperature in the range of 419° C. to 521° C., when measured at a rate of 10° C./min. 
     
     
         13 . The alloy composition of  claim 1 , wherein said alloy composition exhibits an ultimate tensile strength in the range of 0.62 GPa to 5.8 GPa, when measured at a strain rate of 0.001 s −1 . 
     
     
         14 . The alloy composition of  claim 1 , wherein said alloy composition exhibits a total elongation in the range of 0.67% to 12.8%, when measured at a strain rate of 0.001 s −1 . 
     
     
         15 . The alloy composition of  claim 1 , wherein said alloy composition is in the form of one or more of the following: ribbon, fiber, foil, sheet and microwire. 
     
     
         16 . The alloy composition of  claim 15 , wherein said alloy composition has a thickness in the range of 0.001 mm to 3 mm. 
     
     
         17 . The alloy composition of  claim 1 , wherein said alloy composition exhibits an average microhardness in the range of 9.10 GPa to 9.21 GPa when tested under a 50 gram load.