Bulk nickel-phosphorus-boron glasses bearing molybdenum

Abstract

The disclosure provides Ni—Mo—P—B, Ni—Mo—Nb—P—B, and Ni—Mo—Nb—Mn—P—B alloys capable of forming metallic glass objects. The metallic glass objects can have lateral dimensions in excess of 1 mm and as large as 3 mm or larger. The disclosure also provides methods for forming the metallic glasses.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An alloy comprising:
   Ni (100-a-b-c-d) Mo a Nb b P c B d      
       wherein subscripts a, b, c, and d, denote atomic percents for Mo, Nb, P, and B, respectively, wherein a is between 2 and 12, b is up to 8, c is between 14 and 19, d is between 1 and 4, and the balance is nickel (Ni), and wherein the alloy is capable of forming an object comprising a metallic glass. 
     
     
         2 . The alloy of  claim 1 , wherein a combined atomic percent of Mo and niobium is between 7 and 9. 
     
     
         3 . The alloy of  claim 1 , wherein the atomic percent of Mo is between 3 and 5, and the atomic percent of Nb is between 3 and 5. 
     
     
         4 . The alloy of  claim 1 , wherein a combined atomic percent of P and B is between 18.5 and 20.5. 
     
     
         5 . The alloy of  claim 1 , wherein the atomic percent of P is between 16 and 17, and the atomic percent of B is between 2.75 and 3.75. 
     
     
         6 . The alloy of  claim 1 , wherein up to 1 atomic percent of P is substituted by Si. 
     
     
         7 . The alloy of  claim 1 , wherein up to 2 atomic % of Mo or Ni is substituted by Fe, Co, Mn, W, Cr, Ru, Re, Cu, Pd, Pt, V, Ta, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The alloy of  claim 1 , wherein the alloy is selected from a group consisting of Ni 72.8 Mo 4 Nb 4 P 16.08 B 3.12 , Ni 72.3 Mo 8 P 16.5 B 3.2 , Ni 72.3 Mo 4 Nb 4 P 16.5 B 3.2 , Ni 72.3 Mo 3.5 Nb 4.5 P 16.5 B 3.2 , Ni 72.3 Mo 4 Nb 4 P 16.2 B 3.5 , Ni 72.3 Mo 3 Nb 5 P 16.5 B 3.2 , Ni 72.3 Mo 4.5 Nb 3.5 P 16.5 B 3.2 , Ni 72.3 Mo 5 Nb 3 P 16.5 B 3.2 , Ni 72.3 Mo 4 Nb 4 P 17.2 B 2.5 , and Ni 72.3 Mo 4 Nb 4 P 16.7 B 3 . 
     
     
         9 . The alloy of  claim 1 , wherein the alloy is capable of forming an object comprising a metallic glass having a lateral dimension of at least 1 mm. 
     
     
         10 . An alloy comprising:
   Ni (100-a-b-c-d-e) Mo a Nb b Mn c P d B e ,   
       wherein subscripts a, b, c, d, and e denote atomic percents for Mo, Nb, Mn, P and B, respectively, a is between 1 and 5, b is between 3 and 5, c is up to 2, d is between 16 and 17, and e is between 2.75 and 3.75, wherein the alloy is capable of forming an object comprising a metallic glass having a lateral dimension of at least 1.5 mm. 
     
     
         11 . The alloy of  claim 10 , wherein a combined atomic percent of Mo and Mn is between 3 and 5, wherein the atomic percent of manganese is between 0.5 and 1.5, and wherein the alloy is capable of forming an object comprising a metallic glass having a lateral dimension of at least 2 mm. 
     
     
         12 . The alloy of  claim 11 , wherein the combined atomic percent of Mo and Mn is between 3.5 and 4.5, wherein the atomic percent of Mn is between 0.75 and 1.25, and wherein the alloy is capable of forming an object comprising a metallic glass having a lateral dimension of at least 2.5 mm. 
     
     
         13 . The alloy of  claim 10 , wherein the alloy is selected from a group consisting of Ni 72.3 Mo 3.5 Nb 4 Mn 0.5 P 16.5 B 3.2 , Ni 72.3 Mo 3 Nb 4 Mn 1 P 16.5 B 3.2 , and Ni 72.3 Mo 2.5 Nb 4 Mn 1.5 P 16.5 B 3.2 . 
     
     
         14 . The alloy of  claim 10 , wherein up to 1 atomic percent of P is substituted by Si. 
     
     
         15 . The alloy of  claim 10 , wherein up to 2 atomic percent of Ni is substituted by Fe, Co, W, Ru, Re, Cu, Pd, Pt, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         16 . A metallic glass comprising the alloy of  claim 10 . 
     
     
         17 . The metallic glass of  claim 16 , wherein the stress intensity at crack initiation when measured on a 2 mm diameter rod containing a notch with length between 0.75 and 1.25 mm and root radius between 0.1 and 0.15 mm is at least 60 MPa m 1/2 . 
     
     
         18 . The metallic glass of  claims 16 , wherein a wire made of the metallic glass having a diameter of 1 mm can undergo macroscopic plastic deformation under bending load without fracturing catastrophically. 
     
     
         19 . A method of producing the metallic glass of  claim 16 , the method comprising:
 melting the alloy; and   quenching the molten alloy at a cooling rate sufficiently rapid to prevent crystallization of the alloy.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising fluxing the molten alloy prior to quenching by using a reducing agent.