Manufacturing of metallic glass components: Processes, structures and properties

Abstract

Metallic glasses (MGs) are out-of-equilibrium metallic systems known for their unique structural and functional properties arising from structural long-range disorder. Despite their attractive properties, practical applications of MGs fabricated by traditional casting strategy face challenges due to size constraints (limited glass-forming ability) and shape complexity issues. Over the decades since the discovery of MGs in the 1960 s, significant progress has been made in overcoming these limitations by the manufacture strategy, enabling the fabrication of engineering components with desired sizes, tailored shapes, and intricate geometries. This paper presents a comprehensive assessment of the state-of-art for manufacturing techniques of large MG and MG parts. The advancements in subtractive, formative, and additive manufacturing of MGs, as well as their joining and welding processes, are reviewed. By consolidating the existing knowledge, this review aims to suggest the practical and promising approach to overcome the limited glass-forming ability and size restrictions in cast MGs through the manufacture strategy, offer insights for further advancements in MG manufacturing, address evolving nature of the field and promote a better understanding of the key scientific aspects of structures and properties in processed MG components.