Improvement of corrosion-wear resistance of Zr-based metallic glass by pre-oxidation treatment

Zr-based bulk metallic glasses (BMGs) are considered to have broad application prospects due to their superior mechanical properties and excellent glass forming ability (GFA). However, the wear resistance of Zr-based BMGs, especially when exposed to corrosive liquid environments, is insufficient and could decrease their service reliability in special environments. Here, we report a facile method that can significantly enhance the corrosion-wear performance of Zr-based MBGs, termed as pre-oxidation treatment (PT). The key parameters of electrochemical experiments proved that PT samples have a lower tendency to corrosion, the wear rates of the PT samples in 3.5 % NaCl neutral solution and 1N HCl acidic solution were 1.55 × 10⁻⁶ mm³ N⁻¹ m⁻¹ and 0.88 × 10⁻⁶ mm³ N⁻¹ m⁻¹, respectively, which are significantly lower than those of the As-cast (AC) samples (29.8 × 10⁻⁶ mm³ N⁻¹ m⁻¹ and 44.99 × 10⁻⁶ mm³ N⁻¹ m⁻¹, respectively). AC and PT samples both experienced synergistic effects of corrosion and mechanical wear, AC samples primarily experienced abrasive, adhesive, fatigue, and minor oxidative wear with corrosive wear. PT samples, with a high-hardness oxide layer, the wear debris and corrosion products could form lubrication, shown better resistance to mechanical wear, making mild abrasive and corrosive wear their main wear mechanisms. Our results demonstrates that PT can significantly enhance the corrosion-wear durability of metallic glasses, thereby unlocking engineering potential in corrosive-service environments.