High strength conductive bulk Cu-based alloy/metallic glass composites fabricated by spark plasma sintering

Highlights: • The bulk CuCrZr alloy/CuZrAl metallic glass composites (CA/CMGCs) with both high strength and high conductivity was prepared by ball milling and SPS process. • The CuZrAl MG provides high strength and the CuCrZr alloy contributes greatly to the plasticity and conductivity of the CA/CMGCs. High strength conductive materials are the basic materials in the fields of electronic communication and mechanical manufacturing. In this study, we synthesize high-strength and high-conductivity bulk CuCrZr alloy/CuZrAl metallic glass composites (CA/CMGCs) via spark plasma sintering (SPS) process. The effect of CuZrAl metallic glass (MG) content on the mechanical and electrical properties of the composites is investigated. The CuZrAl MG provides high strength and the CuCrZr alloy contributes significantly to the plasticity and conductivity of the composites. In addition, it is demonstrated that a good bonding state between metallic glass and crystalline alloy contributes primarily to the high strength and high conductivity of the bulk CA/CMGCs. This study provides insights into the untapped potential of high-strength and high-conductivity Cu matrix crystal/amorphous composites.