TY - JOUR

T1 - Phase-separated Zr70-xAl12.5Fe17.5Yx (x = 0–25 at.%) metallic glasses with suitable mechanical properties for possible implant applications

AU - Singh, Devinder

AU - Ramasamy, Parthiban

AU - Jelinek, Anna

AU - Maier-Kiener, Verena

AU - Bhattacharya, Rahul

AU - Chen, Zhuo

AU - Sharifikolouei, Elham

AU - Scalia, Alessandro Calogero

AU - Najmi, Ziba

AU - Cochis, Andrea

AU - Fellner, Simon

AU - Yüce, Eray

AU - Gammer, Christoph

AU - Zhang, Zaoli

AU - Eckert, Jürgen

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2025 The Authors

PY - 2025/2/28

Y1 - 2025/2/28

N2 - Phase separation arises from the substitution of Y in Zr 70-xAl 12.5Fe 17.5Y x (x = 0–25 at.%) metallic glasses (MGs), resulting in the formation of nano-amorphous domains within a glassy matrix. The glasses with x ≥ 10 show a typical liquid phase separation-induced two-glassy phase (Zr-rich and Y-rich) morphology with droplet-like microstructures (nano-amorphous domains). The size of the domains increases with increasing Y addition. Atom probe tomography (APT) analysis confirms the formation of nanometer-sized Y-enriched clusters for x = 15 and 20. The effect of microstructural variation due to phase separation on the mechanical properties was studied using micro- and nano-indentation techniques. The micro-hardness and nano-hardness are found to be in the range of 4.58–5.73 GPa and 5.22–6.11 GPa for the alloys with x = 0–25. The hardness and elastic modulus decrease gradually with the increase in Y content. The Zr-based MGs exhibit Young's moduli in the range of 81–91 GPa, which are lower than that of Co–Cr–Mo, 316L SS and Ti–6Al–4V commercial implant alloys. Evaluation of the cytocompatibility of the MG ribbons reveals high metabolic activity and well-spread human gingival fibroblast (HGF) cells on the surface of x = 10 and 15 samples. Thus, the two glassy-phase Zr-based MGs free of toxic elements (Ni and Cu) exhibit suitable mechanical properties and biocompatibility, making them strong contenders for use in implant applications.

AB - Phase separation arises from the substitution of Y in Zr 70-xAl 12.5Fe 17.5Y x (x = 0–25 at.%) metallic glasses (MGs), resulting in the formation of nano-amorphous domains within a glassy matrix. The glasses with x ≥ 10 show a typical liquid phase separation-induced two-glassy phase (Zr-rich and Y-rich) morphology with droplet-like microstructures (nano-amorphous domains). The size of the domains increases with increasing Y addition. Atom probe tomography (APT) analysis confirms the formation of nanometer-sized Y-enriched clusters for x = 15 and 20. The effect of microstructural variation due to phase separation on the mechanical properties was studied using micro- and nano-indentation techniques. The micro-hardness and nano-hardness are found to be in the range of 4.58–5.73 GPa and 5.22–6.11 GPa for the alloys with x = 0–25. The hardness and elastic modulus decrease gradually with the increase in Y content. The Zr-based MGs exhibit Young's moduli in the range of 81–91 GPa, which are lower than that of Co–Cr–Mo, 316L SS and Ti–6Al–4V commercial implant alloys. Evaluation of the cytocompatibility of the MG ribbons reveals high metabolic activity and well-spread human gingival fibroblast (HGF) cells on the surface of x = 10 and 15 samples. Thus, the two glassy-phase Zr-based MGs free of toxic elements (Ni and Cu) exhibit suitable mechanical properties and biocompatibility, making them strong contenders for use in implant applications.

KW - Cytocompatibility

KW - Mechanical properties

KW - Metallic glasses

KW - Microstructure

KW - Nano-amorphous domain

KW - Phase separation

KW - Zr-alloys

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85219494269&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1016/j.jmrt.2025.02.252

DO - 10.1016/j.jmrt.2025.02.252

M3 - Article

VL - 35.2025

SP - 6468

EP - 6484

JO - Journal of Materials Research and Technology

JF - Journal of Materials Research and Technology

SN - 2238-7854

IS - March-April

ER -