A Ti 43 Zr 7 Cu 43 Ni 7 bulk metallic glass (BMG) exhibits a plastic strain of less than 0.2% under room-temperature compression. However, a Ti 45 Zr 5 Cu 40 Ni 7.5 Sn 2.5 BMG developed by addition of Sn to Ti 43 Zr 7 Cu 43 Ni 7 shows a significant improvement of $14.8% to the plastic strain with work hardening. Microstructural comparison of these BMGs reveals that the addition of Sn leads to formation of nano-scale chemical heterogeneities throughout the material. These nano-scale chemical fluctuations play an important role in enhancing the plastic strain of (Ti-Cu)-based BMGs.

A series of Ti 44 Cu 44Àx Co 4 Zr 6 Sn 2 Be x bulk metallic glasses with x ¼ 0{5:1 has been systematically investigated in terms of glass-forming ability and mechanical properties at room temperature. With the small amount of Be addition, the glass forming ability as well as ductility can be significantly increased leading to the fully amorphous rod having the diameter larger than 4 mm and ductility larger than 10%. Upon compressing the bulk metallic glass Ti 44 Cu 38:9 Co 4 Zr 6 Sn 2 Be 5:1 , a work hardening-like behavior that may be attributed to structural heteorgeniety was observed.