Manufacturing Techniques of Bulk Metallic Glasses

This chapter discusses some of the most common metallic glass sheets, ribbons, and bulk metallic glasses (BMGs) rod, bar, and plate manufacturing methods. The discussed methods include: rapid quenching methods, water-quenching method, arc melting drop/suction casting method, high-pressure die casting method, copper mold casting method, cap casting method, centrifugal casting method, and metal foaming method. Water quenching method is one of the easiest methods to obtain amorphous microstructure for some BMG alloys. Method includes a sequence of heating and quenching processes. Another BMG manufacturing method is arc melting method with a special combination of different casting methods. Arc melting and drop casting methods are well established and known processes for BMG alloys. Drop casting is typically used to process materials with diameters larger than 6mm, while suction casting is used for casting of materials with diameters under 6mm.