Modeling and simulation of microstructural evolution in Zr based Bulk Metallic Glass Matrix Composites during solidification

Bulk metallic glass and their composites are unique new materials which have superior mechanical and structural properties as compared to existing conventional materials. Owing to this, they are potential candidates for tomorrow’s structural applications. However, they suffer from disadvantages of poor ductility and little or no toughness which render them brittle and they manifest catastrophic failure on the application of force. Their behavior is dubious and requires extensive experimentation to draw conclusive results. In present study, an effort has been made to overcome this pitfall by simulation. A quantitative mathematical model based on KGT theory has been developed to describe nucleation and growth of second phase dendrites from melt in glassy matrix during solidification. It yields information about numerical parameters necessary to understand the behaviour of each individual element in multicomponent sluggish slurry and their effect on final microstructural evolution. Model is programmed and simulated in MATLAB®. Its validation is done by comparison with identical curves reported in literature previously for similar alloys. Results indicate that the effect of incorporating all heat transfer coefficients at macroscopic level and diffusion coefficients at microscopic level play a vital role in refining the model and bringing it closer to actual experimental observations. Two types of hypo and eutectic systems namely Zr65Cu15Al10Ni10 and Zr47.5Cu45.5Al5Co2 respectively were studied. Simulation results were found to be in good agreement with prior simulated and experimental values.