Tuning glass formation and brittle behaviors by similar solvent element substitution in (Mn,Fe)-based bulk metallic glasses

A family of Mn-rich bulk metallic glasses (BMGs) was developed through the similar solvent elements (SSE) substitution of Mn for Fe in (MnxFe80−x)P10B7C3 alloys. The effect of the SSE substitution on glass formation, thermal stability, elastic constants, mechanical properties, fracture morphologies, Weibull modulus and indentation fracture toughness was discussed. A thermodynamics analysis provided by Battezzati et al. (L. Battezzati, E. Garrone, Z. Metallkd. 75 (1984) 305–310) was adopted to explain the compositional dependence of the glass-forming ability (GFA). The elastic moduli follow roughly linear correlations with the substitution concentration of Mn in (MnxFe80−x)P10B7C3 BMGs. The introduction of Mn to replace Fe significantly decreases the plasticity of the resulting BMGs and the Weibull modulus of the fracture strength. A super-brittle Mn-based BMGs of (Mn55Fe25)P10B7C3 BMGs were found with the indentation fracture toughness (Kc) of 1.91±0.04 MPa m1/2, the lowest value among all kinds of BMGs so far. The atomic and electronic structure of the selected BMGs were simulated by the first principles molecular dynamics calculations based on density functional theory, which provided a possible understanding of the brittleness caused by the similar chemical element replacement of Mn for Fe.