Crystallisation by laser for Zr based bulk metallic glass

Bulk metallic glasses (BMGs) show high amorphous phase stability. The solidification process of BMG occurs with the cessation of epitaxial crystal growth. For a laser heated and melted surface of BMG, crystallisation occurs during cooling, along with crystalline growth from the heat affected zone. Such crystallisation stops at a certain location where the residual melt solidifies as amorphous. The amorphous formation can occur after crystal nucleation. Thermal treatment using a diode laser was used for surface modification of 2 mm thick Zr₅₅Al₁₀Ni₅Cu₃₀ (at.-%) BMG plates. When laser conditions (scanning speed, defocused irradiated spot size and output power) were changed, the maximum temperature and heating cooling rate were changed, and microstructures were changed. Cessation of crystallisation was observed.