Nanophase composites in easy glass forming systems

Nanophase composites based on Zr- and Mg-base easy glass forming alloys wer e prepared by partial crystallization of melt-quenched amorphous alloys or by mechanical alloying of elemental powder mixtures blended with oxide part icles. The amorphous phases exhibit a wide supercooled liquid region before crystallization, even in the presence of second phase particles. This allo ws an easy consolidation of powders or shaping of bulk samples due to visco us flow. Room temperature mechanical properties will be presented and discu ssed with respect to the potential of the nanoscale microstructure for mech anical strengthening. (C) 1999 Acta Metallurgica Inc.