Amorphous Metals

An amorphous metal is an alloy combining elements of differing atomic diameters. The dark grey disk (right) is an amorphous metal formed by combining 5 different atoms together: zirconium, titanium, copper, nickel, and beryllium (Zr41.2Be22.5Ti13.8Cu12.5Ni10.0). The differing atomic diameters and unusual composition prevents the atoms from arranging in a regular crystalline structure. The atoms have no easy way to slip by each other under deformation, resulting in a very hard material. When a steel ball bearing is dropped on the amorphous metal, it does not permanently deform and the ball bounces many times before coming to rest.

Note - Previously, there was a typo in the caption of this video that deezynar caught. It should have indeed read that the tube on the RIGHT contained the amorphous metal. In the original video, you can see it as a thin, darker grey disk on top of the lighter, silvery base. When uploaded to YouTube and shrunk/compressed, this became less obvious. If you look carefully at the tube on the right, you'll notice a sort of dark horizontal line where the disc and the base meet. We appreciate deezynar's feedback and apologize for the lack of response. A mistake in our account settings resulted in us not getting an e-mail that we had received comments.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• amorphous metals
• alloy
• materials science
• demonstration
• education
• maryland

[Jodo4]

From the view of a materials scientist, doesn't more amorphous mean it's less crystalline? that should mean its better at absorbing shock and the ball should bounce less. Since it's bouncing a lot and its energy is being delivered back into its recoil, the metal should be extremely crystalline or not amorphous at all

if you told me the one on the left was highly amorphous I'd believe you without a doubt

[materialsatumd]

@Jodo4 Professor Robert M. Briber responds: "The amorphous metal is not crystalline. The atoms have a arrangement similar to a liquid, but one where the mobility of the atoms is much smaller, as they are essentially frozen in position because the material is in the glassy state. Energy dissipation occurs during deformation in metals through plastic deformation from the large scale movement of atoms, usually along directions in the crystal where the atoms can move relatively easily." (cont'd...)

[materialsatumd]

@Jodo4 (part 2; sorry about the character limit) "...These directions are called slip planes and the movement of the atoms results in the formation of defects and dislocations in the crystal. Amorphous metals have no 'easy' direction(s) for deformation (no slip planes for example) and exhibit a more elastic response. One use of such materials are in sporting goods such as golf clubs."

[deezynar]

A) Both discs (they look more like cylinders than discs) look to be equally dark grey.

B) The ball on the right is the one that bounced more, not the one on the left.

C) If the atoms cannot group in repeating patterns, it would seem to make the material less hard because the atoms have random, less solid relationships w/ their cohorts.

Can you post another video w/ animations of both types of materials showing the atoms under stress?

[materialsatumd]

@deezynar There was a typo, which has now been fixed. Thank you. The RIGHT cylinder contains the amorphous metal disc. Please see the expanded video information for additional comments, since we keep receiving an error when trying to paste them here.

[materialsatumd]

@deezynar Our professors may be working on some new or revised videos over the summer. We appreciate your interest.

[AdvancingIdeals]

I believe metallic glasses are a massive step. Their traits induce a wide band of possibilities and applications. Research regarding such materials has unlocked great knowledge and exploration should be further encouraged by the scientific community.

[SavageInsight]

@paparockman You'd be shocked at what was created 50-100 years ago. People have been taught growing up to feel that "now" is a wonderful state of superiority, no matter how much we think it sucks. It's kind of a coping mechanism. The reality is that people create stunning things all the time, but whoever is around then either can't find a use for it, can't find someone who will or can make a lot of it, or its just something people don't notice.

[SavageInsight]

What would be a comparison between an amorphous metal and Nitinol 60? I'm attempting to understand the mechanical properties of dissipating energy of a non-crystalline metal vs a highly elastic cubic crystalline metal

[paparockman]

this was created in the 80s??

hmm

[materialsatumd]

@Jodo4 We have forwarded your question to the professor who created this demonstration and will post a reply when we receive it. Thanks for your interest!

[phatric]

@Jodo4

Define "more amorphous". If it's in-fact much harder than traditional metal, who's to say that a "more amorphous" example than this particular piece would allow the ball to bounce less... ?

You're argument is purely vain; to hear yourself. You have no rational, and from a "non-scientist" to an apparent one...WOW. You pass with 50% or what?