Structure and Properties of Zr-Based Bulk Metallic Glasses in As-Cast State and After Laser Welding

Laser-beam fusion welding processes enable the increase of the size of metallic glass parts, and therefore facilitate the application of this new material in different products. To get exceptional properties of the material after the welding process, characteristics of the weld structure in the heat affected zone and in the fusion zone should be predicted. The main goal of this work is to study the structure and specific characteristics of the Zr(55)Cu(30)Ni(5)Al(10) alloy after the casting process and after the laser welding process. Electron microscopy observation confirmed that the amorphous phase was present in the fusion zone and amorphous–crystalline phase was present in the heat-affected zone. Higher nanohardness and reduced Young’s modulus values were demonstrated for laser welds using higher impulse energy (2.78 J) and impulse peak power (1000 W).