Thermoplastic forming Zr-based amorphous alloy grating and the excellent performance as micromolds

Abstract

Amorphous alloys have good formability in the supercooled liquid region, and specimens with various structures can be formed. In this study, a (Zr_0.6336Cu_0.1452Ni_0.1012Al_0.12)_97.4Er_2.6 amorphous alloy grating was fabricated using thermoplastic forming technology. According to the Arrhenius theory, a (Zr_0.6336Cu_0.1452Ni_0.1012Al_0.12)_97.4Er_2.6 amorphous alloy constitutive model was established. By performing a DEFORM-3D simulation, the filling behavior of the alloy in a microchannel was studied. The forming quality of the Zr-based amorphous alloy grating was found to be the best when the temperature was 703 K, the strain rate was 1×10^-3 s^-1, and the load was 1200 N. Subsequently, the mechanical properties, optical properties, and wettability of the grating samples were studied. After forming, the nanoindentation hardness and elastic modulus of the Zr-based amorphous alloys were significantly improved. The absorption rate of the amorphous alloy grating reached 94.21%, and the antireflection effect was the best. The contact angle was 121.837°, indicating good hydrophobic performance. Furthermore, the thermoplastic polymers polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) and D-FK61 glass were hot-pressed using the prepared Zr-based amorphous alloy grating as the mold. The antireflection properties of the PMMA and glass grating were improved after hot pressing. Additionally, the contact angles of the PMMA and glass gratings were 113° and 113.01°, respectively, exhibiting good stability in complex environments. This study will facilitate broader application of amorphous alloys in engineering practice.