Deformation behavior of amorphous composites containing crystalline nickel in the supercooled liquid region

Amorphous composites comprising various volume fractions of crystalline nickel were produced by means of electroless coating of nickel on the amorphous powder and subsequent spark plasma sintering of the coated powder. The deformation behavior was determined by the uniaxial compression test at temperatures in the supercooled liquid region. Homogeneous plastic flow was the dominant deformation at 723 K, while inhomogeneous deformation prevailed at 733 K. Finite elements calculations disclose that reducing the strain concentration in soft nickel provides the resistance against the formation of macro-cracks in the composites.